Donald Trump has become the first former president in US history to be indicted over his handling of classified documents.
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, Trump announced that he had been indicted by the Biden Administration, and detailed how he is set to appear at the federal courthouse on Tuesday in Miami.
“The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax, even though Joe Biden has 1850 Boxes at the University of Delaware, additional boxes in Chinatown, D.C., with even more boxes at the university of Pennsylvania, and documents strewn all over the garage floor where he parks his Corvette, and which is “secured” by only / garage floor that is paper thin, and open much of the time,” Trump said via a statement on his Truth Social platform.
“I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3PM,” he added.
“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 the 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!” he declared.
WATCH: President Trump responds to the corrupt scheme from Biden's politicized DOJ to interfere in the 2024 election. pic.twitter.com/oFXqM6YBvC
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 9, 2023
He becomes the first former US President to face criminal charges by the federal government — the charge carries serious legal consequences, and he could face prison if he is convicted. The indictment includes charges of wilful retention of national defence information, which is a crime under the Espionage Act.
Trump is facing charges of wilful retention of national defence information — which is a crime under the Espionage Act. The indictment also includes charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy and false statements, and destruction or falsification of records.
Trump’s rival in the nomination race for 2024, Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, slammed the indictment, describing the charges as “a mortal threat to a free society”.
DeSantis questioned why there was such an appetite for pursuing Trump, with less of a focus on holding Hilary Clinton or Hunter Biden to account.
“We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation,” the presidential hopeful said. “Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?
“The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all,” he tweeted.
The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society.
We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.
Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?
The DeSantis…
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) June 9, 2023
Other Republicans who have united in a shoe of support included House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who slammed the move as “unconscionable”.
“Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America.
“It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him. Joe Biden kept classified documents for decades,” he said in an unequivocally string at statement shared with his 2.6 million followers.
“I, and every American who believes in the rule of law, stand with President Trump against this grave injustice. House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable.”
Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America.
It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him. Joe Biden kept classified documents for decades.
I, and every American who believes in the rule of law, stand with President Trump…
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) June 9, 2023
Democrats, however, were among those to say that the indictment of Trump was an affirmation of the US justice system.
Lead prosecutor in Mr Trump’s first impeachment trial, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, said that “for four years, he acted like he was above the law”.
“But he should be treated like any other lawbreaker. And today, he has been,” he added.
Bill Barr, who served as Attorney General under Trump, denied claims of a witch-hunt against the former president, adding that there was “no excuse” for Mr Trump’s alleged mishandling of documents:
Bill Barr on the classified documents investigation:
"This is not a case of the DOJ conducting a witch hunt…This would have gone nowhere had the president just returned the documents, but he jerked them around for a year and a half…There is no excuse for what he did here." pic.twitter.com/dYWzauBqjo
— Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) June 6, 2023
Despite outcry from Republicans, commentators see the latest criminal charges against Trump as a force for raising his chances of winning the Republican nomination.
However, the indictment carries severe legal consequences, including the possibility of prison if the former president is convicted.
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