For the first time in American history, a former President of the United States (POTUS) is indicted by officials in the government over which he once presided, according to multiple news sources on Thursday evening.
Federal prosecutors and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are charging former President Donald Trump for his criminal and gross mishandling of dozens of classified documents and files he retained after leaving office in 2021. Last August, investigators seized boxes of classified and sensitive documents at Trump’s Florida mansion. Sources close to the investigation said the sealed indictment contains at least seven charges. The disgraced former President will appear at a Miami federal court on Tuesday afternoon. He already faces state criminal charges in New York City. He is under multiple investigations–most notably in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the 2016 election, as well as his role in the January 6th riot and attempted coup at the Capital in Washington.
In a social media posts before and after the federal indictment became public, Trump wrote that he was aware of the charges, dismissed the entire matter as a “hoax,” and “witch hunt.” He denied any wrongdoing. Despite multiple criminal investigations, allegations, indictments, and at least one conviction, Trump remains the leading Republican candidate for President in 2024. He has vowed to remain in the race for the White House.
According to various published reports, federal prosecutors have presented overwhelming and compelling evidence–including eyewitness testimony– that Trump knowingly and repeatedly lied to misled attorneys and others about his retention of highly classified documents after leaving office in January 2021. Retaining and removing documents is a gross violation of the Presidential Record Act.
Federal investigators seized more than a dozen boxes of government records, including 100 classified documents and more than 11,000 documents or photos, from a storage room at the Trump Florida mansion last summer.