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Trump denies indictment reports, calls investigations ‘election interference’

Trump denies indictment reports, calls investigations ‘election interference’. AFP/File

Former President Donald Trump is facing legal scrutiny over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. 

Trump denies any knowledge of being indicted and asserts his innocence, claiming he has done nothing wrong. He slammed the criminal investigations against him as a severe case of election interference and labels the prosecutors involved as fascists.

An FBI raid conducted at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida revealed numerous classified documents. This raid took place before Trump announced his intention to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Taylor Budowich, a key Trump aide, testified before a federal grand jury in Miami. He was questioned about a public statement he made on behalf of Trump, denying that Trump kept classified records after his presidency ended in January 2021.

Federal prosecutors have formally notified Trump’s lawyers that he is a target in the criminal investigation regarding his retention of national security materials at Mar-a-Lago and potential obstruction of justice. This development significantly escalates the stakes for Trump, as the investigation nears its conclusion. Trump’s legal team argued against his indictment during a meeting with the special counsel and senior officials.

Prosecutors have gathered evidence of potential criminal conduct at Mar-a-Lago and intend to file any indictments in the southern district of Florida, where the resort is located. They have issued subpoenas to multiple Trump aides, compelling them to testify before a grand jury in Florida. The focus of the questioning revolves around a statement drafted by Trump that claimed he had returned everything to the National Archives, but the statement was never released.

The specific charges that may arise from the Florida grand jury remain unclear. Prosecutors would likely prefer to file charges in Washington, where judges are more experienced in national security cases. However, the impaneling of a grand jury in Florida suggests that evidence of criminal activity at Mar-a-Lago has influenced this decision. The charges could involve the unlawful possession of classified documents and potential obstruction of justice.

Determining the venue for obstruction of justice charges poses challenges, as legal precedent provides limited guidance. The court’s interpretation of section 1519 of the US criminal code, which prosecutors cited in the Mar-a-Lago search warrant, is yet to be established. The correct venue for charges will depend on where the acts of obstruction occurred, which could potentially lead to charges being filed in Florida.

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