Former US President Donald Trump, 76, has been charged over his handling of classified documents following his departure from the White House. Media reports suggest that Trump faces seven charges, including unauthorized retention of classified files. The specific charges have not been made public. This is the second indictment of Trump and marks the first-ever federal indictment of a former president. Despite the indictment, legal experts assert that it will not impede Trump’s potential candidacy for the presidency in 2024.
In a Truth Social post, Trump proclaimed his innocence and revealed that he had been summoned to appear at a federal court in Miami, Florida, where he will be arrested and informed of the charges.
“I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former president of the United States,” wrote Trump.
“This is indeed a dark day for the United States of America. We are a country in serious and rapid decline, but together we will Make America Great Again!” he added.
The charges reportedly include conspiracy, false statements, obstruction of justice, and illegally retaining classified documents under the Espionage Act. The Department of Justice declined to comment, and the indictment has not been released to the public.
The Secret Service will coordinate with Trump’s staff and security officers to plan his journey to the Miami courthouse. Special prosecutor Jack Smith has been reviewing evidence in the documents case since his appointment by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November. Last year, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida was searched, resulting in the seizure of 11,000 documents, including around 100 classified files, some of which were labeled top secret.
Legal experts affirm that Trump’s indictment will not prevent him from running for office, as being indicted multiple times does not impact eligibility for candidacy.
“He can be indicted any number of times and it won’t stop his ability to stand for office,” says David Super, a professor at Georgetown University Law Centre.
Trump is currently the leading candidate among Republicans for the presidency, according to opinion polls. Several prominent Republicans expressed their support for him after he issued a fundraising email with the subject line “BREAKING: INDICTED.”
Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House of Representatives said it was “unconscionable for a president to indict the leading candidate opposing him”.
“House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponisation of power accountable,” he wrote on Twitter.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Mr Trump’s rival for the 2024 nomination, said: “We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.
“The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponisation once and for all,” he added.
Another running candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, said he would “commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025, and to restore the rule of law in our country”.
However, Asa Hutchinson, who is also in the running for the Republican spot, said Mr Trump’s alleged actions “should not define our nation or the Republican Party”.
Additionally, a separate investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, which Trump lost, is being conducted by special prosecutor Jack Smith. Trump had previously been charged in April for falsifying business records and is scheduled to stand trial for that case in New York next year.
