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Trump charged under Espionage Act in secret documents case What's in the Trump indictment: US nuclear secrets and files kept in shower
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Watch: 'Violations of those laws put our country at risk'Watch: 'Violations of those laws put our country at risk'
Watch: 'Violations of those laws put our country at risk'Watch: 'Violations of those laws put our country at risk'
Former President Donald Trump has been charged with mishandling hundreds of classified files, including about US nuclear weapons and military plans. Former President Donald Trump has been charged with mishandling hundreds of classified documents, including about US nuclear secrets and military plans.
The 37-count indictment accuses him of keeping the documents at his Florida estate, including in a ballroom and bathroom, and lying to investigators. The 37-count indictment accuses him of keeping the files at his Florida estate, including in a ballroom and a shower, and lying to investigators.
The charge sheet lists 31 counts of wilful retention of national defence information under the Espionage Act. It alleges he then tried to obstruct the investigation into the handling of the documents.
Mr Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, denies any wrongdoing.Mr Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, denies any wrongdoing.
He is due to make a first court appearance in the case at a court in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday - the eve of his 77th birthday. Charges have also been filed against Walt Nauta, a personal aide to Mr Trump. The former White House military valet is accused of moving files to hide them from the FBI.
The 49-page indictment contains the first ever federal charges against a former US president. It says Mr Trump was "personally involved" in the process of moving documents from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, his home in Palm Beach which is also a private members' club. The 49-page indictment contains the first-ever federal charges against a former US president. It says the classified documents Mr Trump stored in his boxes contained information about:
Live updates United States nuclear programmes
Could Donald Trump go to prison? Defence and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries
Is this indictment a threat to Trump's 2024 campaign? Potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack
The charge sheet notes that Mar-a-Lago hosted events for tens of thousands of members and guests. Plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack
The indictment reads: "The classified documents Trump stored in his boxes included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and to plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack." Prosecutors say that when Mr Trump left office, he took about 300 classified files to Mar-a-Lago - his oceanfront home in Palm Beach, which is also an expansive private members' club.
The charge sheet notes that Mar-a-Lago hosted events for tens of thousands of members and guests, including in a ballroom where documents were found.
Prosecutors say Mr Trump tried to obstruct the FBI inquiry into the missing documents by suggesting that his lawyer "hide or destroy" them, or tell investigators he did not have them.
"Wouldn't it be better if we just told them we don't have anything here?" Mr Trump said to one of his attorneys, according to the indictment.
Mr Trump's first court appearance in the case will be in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday - the eve of his 77th birthday.
Files were stored in a ballroom at Donald Trump's Florida property, Mar-a-LagoFiles were stored in a ballroom at Donald Trump's Florida property, Mar-a-Lago
Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago club "was not an authorised location" for the "storage, possession, review, display or discussion" of classified documents, the indictment says. Mar-a-Lago "was not an authorised location" for classified documents to be kept or discussed, the indictment says.
Some of the files were allegedly stored on stage in the Mar-a-Lago ballroom, where events and gatherings took place, and later in a bathroom and shower, an office space, and Mr Trump's bedroom. Some files were allegedly stored on stage in the ballroom, where events and gatherings took place - and later in a bathroom and a shower, an office space, and Mr Trump's bedroom.
The boxes - which contained some files from the CIA and National Security Agency - were moved in May 2021 to a storage room that could be reached from the Mar-a-Lago pool patio through a doorway that was often kept open, says the indictment. On two occasions in 2021, the former president showed classified documents to people without security clearance, including a writer and two members of staff.
On two occasions in 2021, the former president showed classified documents to others who did not have security clearance, including a writer and two members of staff. At his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, which was also an "unauthorised location", he is said to have displayed and described a "plan of attack" that he told others had been prepared for him by the Department of Defense.
At his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, he displayed and described a "plan of attack" that he said had been prepared for him by the Defence Department.
"As president I could have declassified it. Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret," Mr Trump allegedly said, according to an audio recording."As president I could have declassified it. Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret," Mr Trump allegedly said, according to an audio recording.
Watch: 'I did nothing wrong. We'll fight this out.'Watch: 'I did nothing wrong. We'll fight this out.'
Watch: 'I did nothing wrong. We'll fight this out.'Watch: 'I did nothing wrong. We'll fight this out.'
The second time the indictment states that Mr Trump displayed classified documents to others was in August or September 2021 at the Bedminster club. Prosecutors say Mr Trump then showed off classified documents again in August or September 2021 at the Bedminster club.
The former US president "showed a representative of his political action committee who did not possess a security clearance a classified map".The former US president "showed a representative of his political action committee who did not possess a security clearance a classified map".
This map "related to a military operation" and Mr Trump told the representative that "he should not be showing it" to them and they "should not get too close". This map "related to a military operation" and Mr Trump told the person "he should not be showing it" to them and they "should not get too close".
The indictment says Mr Trump tried to obstruct the FBI inquiry by suggesting that his lawyer "hide or destroy" the documents, or tell investigators that the former president did not have them. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the investigation, said on Friday that laws protecting national defence information were critical and must be enforced.
"Wouldn't it be better if we just told them we don't have anything here?" Mr Trump said to one of his attorneys, according to the indictment. "We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone," he said in a brief statement in Washington.
The indictment included images of files stored in a showerThe indictment included images of files stored in a shower
Mr Trump's personal aide at Mar-a-Lago, Waltine Nauta, is also charged with six counts. The indictment says the former White House military valet moved files to hide them from the FBI.
Prosecutors say Mr Trump took about 300 classified files to Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House.
About 100 of those - some labelled top secret - were among thousands of files seized when the FBI searched the Palm Beach mansion last August.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the investigation, said in a statement on Friday from his office in Washington DC: "We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone."
In a social media post, Mr Trump blasted Mr Smith as a "deranged lunatic".In a social media post, Mr Trump blasted Mr Smith as a "deranged lunatic".
"He is a Trump Hater - a deranged 'psycho' that shouldn't be involved in any case having to do with 'Justice,'" he wrote on his Truth Social platform. "He is a Trump hater - a deranged 'psycho' that shouldn't be involved in any case having to do with 'Justice,'" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Mr Trump pointed out that classified files were also found in President Joe Biden's former office and Delaware home, including in his garage.Mr Trump pointed out that classified files were also found in President Joe Biden's former office and Delaware home, including in his garage.
The White House has previously said it immediately co-operated with officials as soon as those files were discovered, whereas Mr Trump allegedly sought to obstruct investigators. The White House has previously said it immediately co-operated with officials as soon as those files were discovered, contrasting with Mr Trump's alleged efforts to obstruct investigators.
Mr Biden has not been charged. A federal investigation into Mr Biden's handling of classified documents is being led by Special Counsel Robert Hur and is still under way.
Shortly before the justice department made the criminal charges public, two of Mr Trump's lawyers quit the case without much explanation, saying this was a "logical moment" to resign. Shortly before the Department of Justice made the criminal charges public, two of Mr Trump's lawyers suddenly quit the case without much explanation, saying this was a "logical moment" to resign.
This is the second criminal case for Mr Trump, who is due to go on trial in New York next year in a state case involving a hush-money payment to a porn star.This is the second criminal case for Mr Trump, who is due to go on trial in New York next year in a state case involving a hush-money payment to a porn star.
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