The federal indictment against former President Donald Trump has been unsealed today. This significant development marks the first time a former President has faced federal charges. The indictment includes 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information against Trump.
The indictment states that as he departed the White House, Trump allegedly oversaw the transportation of numerous boxes, many of which contained classified documents, to his residence at The Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. The indictment alleges that Trump was not authorized to possess or retain these classified documents.
The indictment provides specific locations at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida where he allegedly stored classified documents. These locations include a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage room.
According to the indictment, spanning from November 2021 to January 2022, Trump aide Walt Nauta along with another employee, transported boxes of documents to Trump’s residence within a social club. As proof of delivery, a photograph was sent to the former president for confirmation, as detailed in the legal document.
Allegedly, Nauta informed the employee that Trump was actively “working” on the boxes, raising speculations that the former president had reviewed the materials prior to their transfer to the National Archives.
Included in the indictment were text messages exchanged between Nauta and the aforementioned employee, discussing the relocation of various boxes to Trump’s residence.
On January 17, 2022, Nauta returned 15 boxes to the National Archives.
The indictment charges Nauta with making false statements to investigators, specifically denying any involvement in moving the boxes.
Trump reacted to Nauta’s indictment on TruthSocial on Friday, “They are trying to destroy his life, like the lives of so many others, hoping that he will say bad things about ‘Trump.’ He is strong, brave, and a Great Patriot. The FBI and DOJ are CORRUPT!”
Trump is scheduled to make an appearance at a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, where further legal proceedings are expected to take place.
The full indictment you can read below.
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