Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents recovered from his Florida Mar-a-Lago home.
Trump announced the news Thursday night on his Truth Social media site with a post shortly after prosecutors informed his attorneys about the indictment.
“The corrupt Biden Administration has informed by attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax,” wrote Trump in a social media post criticizing President Joe Biden’s handling of classified material.
The former president was reportedly indicted on at least seven counts connected to obstruction of justice and his handling of classified material.
According to a New York Times report, the charges include willfully retaining national defense secrets in direct violation of the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and making false statements.
The indictment is Trump’s second since he left office and is the first time in the history of the United States a former president has faced federal charges. He pleaded not guilty in April to 34 felony counts brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg related to alleged hush money payments made to former stripper and porn actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in both cases.
The former president said his arraignment in the classified documents case would be Tuesday, and he is expected to surrender to authorities in Florida then.
“I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday at 3 p.m. I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in our History of our Country and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election. I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!” 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!” Trump said in his third Truth Social post after the indictment.
In contrast to Trump’s Manhattan indictment, the U.S. Marshals and U.S. Secret Service did not receive advance notice about the charges, and law enforcement is now “scrambling to prepare for his court appearance on Tuesday, according to CNN.
Trump team springs into action releasing fundraising email, video minutes after being indicted
Only minutes after being indicted, Trump’s campaign sent out a fundraising email where the former president made the announcement.
“We are watching our Republic DIE before our very eyes,” wrote Trump. “The Biden-appointed Special Counsel has INDICTED me in yet another witch hunt regarding documents that I had the RIGHT to declassify as President of the United States.”
“This is nothing but a disgusting act of Election Interference by the ruling party to ELIMINATE its opposition and amass total control over our country,” he added.
In a Monday Truth Social post, the former president maintained that he “did nothing wrong” and referred to the government’s investigation into President Joe Biden’s classified documents scandal as reasons he should not face any charges.
In an all-caps post, Trump wrote, “HOW CAN DOJ POSSIBLY CHARGE ME, WHO DID NOTHING WRONG WHEN NO OTHER PRESIDENTS WERE CHARGED, WHEN JOE BIDEN WON’T BE CHARGED FOR ANYTHING, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT HE HAS 1,850 BOXES, MUCH OF IT CLASSIFIED, AND SOME DATING BACK TO HIS SENATE DAY WHEN EVEN DEMOCRAT SENATORS ARE SHOCKED. ALSO, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAD DOCUMENTS AND WON IN COURT. CROOKED HILLARY DELETED 33,000 EMAILS, MANY CLASSIFIED, AND WASN’T EVEN CLOSE TO BEING CHARGED! ONLY TRUMP — THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!”
On Wednesday, the former president alleged that a “WEAPONIZED DOJ & FBI” is the reason he is under federal scrutiny.
“No one has told me I’m being indicted, and I shouldn’t be because I’ve done NOTHING wrong, but I have assumed for years that I am a Target of the WEAPONIZED DOJ & FBI, starting with the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX, the ‘No Collusion’ Mueller Report, Impeachment HOAX #1, Impeachment HOAX #2, the PERFECT Ukraine phone call, and various other SCAMS & WITCH HUNTS. A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE & ELECTION INTERFERENCE AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE. REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS MUST MAKE THIS THEIR #1 ISSUE!!!” Trump wrote.
