Former President Donald Trump is speaking out against the latest charges brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation. Trump accuses the Justice Department of “abuse” and believes that these charges are a direct result of his strong position in the polls for the upcoming 2024 White House race.
The Latest Charges
Trump, who is currently leading in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, faces an additional count of willful retention of national defense information and two new obstruction counts. These charges come as part of a new indictment in Smith’s investigation into Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified records during his time in office.
Trump’s Reaction
Trump expressed his frustration and called the charges “ridiculous”, deeming them as “election interference at the highest level.” He believes that this is a case of prosecutorial misconduct that has never been seen before. Trump feels that if he were not leading President Biden by a significant margin in the polls, these charges would not be happening. He is urging the Republican Party to take action against what he perceives as abuse from the DOJ.
Allegations of DOJ Abuse
The former president accuses the DOJ of abusing its power and points to his leading position in the polls as the reason for these charges. Trump asserts that if he were not a threat to President Biden, he would not be facing these allegations. He believes that the party needs to address the alleged abuse by the DOJ.
Details of the Superseding Indictment
The new indictment expands the charges against Trump, adding one defendant and four new counts. These include an additional count of willful retention of National Defense Information against Trump. Carlos de Oliveira, from Florida, was included in the obstruction conspiracy charges. The indictment also includes new obstruction counts related to allegations of attempting to delete surveillance video footage at The Mar-a-Lago Club in the summer of 2022.
Trump Campaign’s Response
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign criticized the additional charges, claiming that they are a desperate attempt by the Biden administration to harass Trump and those associated with him. The spokesperson argues that Special Counsel Jack Smith is pursuing these charges without a legitimate case.
Investigations Involving Biden and Pence
Classified records were also discovered at President Biden’s office and former Vice President Mike Pence’s home. U.S. Attorney Robert Hur is leading the DOJ investigation into Biden’s records, while Pence will not face charges.
Ongoing Investigations by Special Counsel Smith
Jack Smith is also investigating whether Trump or other officials interfered with the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election, particularly surrounding the certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021.
Meeting with Trump’s Legal Team
Trump’s legal team recently met with Special Counsel Smith and his team in anticipation of a potential federal indictment relating to the January 6th probe. Trump asserts that the meeting was productive and maintains his belief that he did nothing wrong. He has not received a specific timeline for a possible indictment but expects an arrest and indictment to occur.
