Trump told he is target of Mar-a-Lago documents criminal probe
Former President Donald Trump has been informed that he is a target of a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors into his retention of hundreds of classified government records after leaving the White House, according to an NBC News report on Wednesday evening.
Trump’s attorneys were reportedly informed of this at a meeting on Monday at the Department of Justice with special counsel Jack Smith and other DOJ officials. It is unclear whether they were previously notified of his status.
Targets are individuals who prosecutors believe committed a crime and are often indicted. By informing a target of their status, prosecutors can offer them an opportunity to testify before a grand jury. DOJ regulations encourage prosecutors to inform targets a reasonable time before seeking an indictment in appropriate cases.
The investigation is looking into Trump’s possession of classified records at his residence in Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and his attempts to hide those documents from government officials seeking their return. Under the law, presidents are required to surrender government records when they leave office.
A raid conducted by the FBI at Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 found hundreds of classified documents and other government records. Smith is also overseeing a separate criminal probe into Trump’s efforts to reverse his loss in the 2020 presidential election.
Aides of Trump, such as Taylor Budowich, have been called to testify in front of grand juries as part of the case.
When asked about his status, Trump denied being informed by anyone that he was being indicted and denied wrongdoing.
Trump currently faces other legal battles. In March, he was indicted by a New York state grand jury on charges of falsifying business records in connection with a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels by his then-personal lawyer. He has pleaded not guilty in that case, which is due to go to trial next year in Manhattan Supreme Court. A state prosecutor in Georgia is also investigating him and his allies for their efforts to reverse his loss in the presidential election in their state in 2020.
FAQs:
What is Trump being investigated for?
Trump is being investigated for his retention of hundreds of classified government records after leaving the White House. Prosecutors suspect that he kept the records at his residence in Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and attempted to hide those documents from government officials who sought their return.
What does being a target mean?
Being a target means that prosecutors believe an individual has committed a crime and are likely to be indicted.
What did the raid at Mar-a-Lago uncover?
The FBI carried out a raid at Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 and found hundreds of classified documents and other government records.
What other legal battles is Trump facing?
Trump was indicted by a New York state grand jury in March on charges of falsifying business records in connection with a 2016 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. He has also faced investigations for his efforts to reverse his loss in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
Target of Criminal Probe: Trump is Informed of Mar-a-Lago Documents Investigation
Former President Donald Trump has been informed that he is the target of a federal criminal probe into his retention of classified government documents after leaving the White House, according to sources cited by NBC News. The notification of Trump’s status was reportedly made to his lawyers during a meeting with the Department of Justice on Monday. Trump is being investigated by special counsel Jack Smith on suspicion of both keeping classified records at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and hiding them from officials seeking their return. The investigation comes after a raid by the FBI on Mar-a-Lago last August, which uncovered hundreds of classified documents. Targets of federal probes are typically people that prosecutors believe have committed a crime and they often end up being indicted.