Trump charged with 37 counts in classified documents indictment
Donald Trump was indicted on 37 counts by the special counsel’s office on Thursday, alleging that he knowingly withheld documents containing the nation’s most sensitive secrets, including nuclear programs, following when he left office, showed some documents at least twice and then tried to impede the investigation of their whereabouts.
Federal prosecutors unveiled an indictment Friday against the former president and his aide, Walt Nauta, related to his handling of government documents.
Authorities stand outside Mar-a-Lago, former president Donald Trump’s residence, amid reports of the FBI executing a search warrant as part of a document investigation, in Palm Beach, Fla. , August 9, 2022.
Cristobal Herrera Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Read the full indictment here:
Trump is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday in Florida federal court.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and criticized the Justice Department and the US attorney general’s office for conducting a political “witch hunt”.
The 49-page indictment includes several transcripts, photographs and other evidence that federal prosecutors accused Trump of knowingly keeping classified documents and endangering national security.
According to the indictment, some of the classified documents Trump allegedly holds include nuclear secrets and defense capabilities of the United States and its allies.
The indictment alleges, “Trump stored boxes of classified documents… in his ballroom, bathroom and shower, office space, bedroom, and locker room.”
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference after going to court about the alleged payment of ‘hush money’, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. April 4, 2023.
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
According to the indictment, Trump is said to have told his lawyers after receiving a subpoena to return the documents, “I don’t want anyone looking through my boxes, I really don’t want to.” .”
He also asked, “What if we don’t respond at all?”
“It would be better if we just told them we have nothing here,” the document said he asked.
Then, “Oh, wouldn’t it be better to have no documentation?”
Prosecutors also described an alleged exchange of accusations between Nauta and an unnamed member of the Trump family – who ABC News believes from sources to be Melania Trump – shortly after Nauta delivered the goods. dozens of boxes from their storage location inside Mar-a-Lago.
The indictment reads, “On May 30, 2022, at 12:33 p.m., a Trump family member texted NAUTA: Good Afternoon Walt, Happy Memorial Day! I see you ordering boxes! Just FYI and I’ll tell him too: Not sure how many people he wants to bring on the plane on Friday. We won’t have room for them. The plane will be full of luggage. Thanks. Friend!”
On this March 13, 2023, file photo, Walt Nauta, aid to former President Donald Trump, follows Trump as they board his plane, known as Trump Force One, en route to Iowa, at the Yard Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE
Nauta replied: “Good afternoon ma’am [Smiley Face Emoji] Thank you very much. I think he wanted to choose from them. I don’t imagine he wants to take the boxes. He told me to leave them in the room and he will talk to you about them,” the court document said.
Special Counsel Jack Smith is expected to issue a statement on the indictment at 3 p.m. EST
This is an evolving story. Please check back for updates.