Former President Donald Trump has alleged that a federal grand jury has indicted him on charges related to the mishandling of classified information.
This marks the second indictment against Trump since he left office and his first on federal charges. He had previously been indicted over alleged hush payments made to Stormy Daniels, to which he pleaded not guilty.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax… I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday at 3 PM. I never thought such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States… I AM AN INNOCENT MAN! This is a DARK DAY for the United States of America… but together, we will Make America Great Again!”
The Justice Department launched the investigation in February last year after over 100 classified documents were found in boxes returned from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. More documents were later turned over to the authorities in response to a grand jury subpoena.
Trump’s legal team had initially asserted that all sensitive government documents were returned. However, an FBI raid in August 2022 uncovered over 100 additional items marked as classified.
In November, former war crimes prosecutor Jack Smith was appointed as a special counsel to guide the investigation into the classified documents and Trump’s role in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Testimonies were gathered from Mar-a-Lago staff, Trump aides, and his legal representatives.
Read: Donald Trump Seeks New Trial in E. Jean Carroll’s Civil Lawsuit
Evidence analyzed by the investigators included surveillance footage and an audio recording in which Trump admitted to possessing a classified document about a potential military strike on Iran. Trump maintains that as president, he had the authority to declassify everything he took from the White House.
Trump has accused the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI of being weaponized against him, citing instances like the Russia investigation, the Mueller Report, and impeachment proceedings as part of a broader pattern of unfair scrutiny and election interference.
Trump is adamant about his innocence and has urged Republicans in Congress to prioritize his case. He also questions the legitimacy of the investigation against him.
