Former US President Donald Trump, announced on social media that he's been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate. The Justice Department has yet to confirm the indictment publicly.
Trump faces investigation in various states and venues as he campaigns for a return to the White House. Trump's case differs from other politicians who have been found in possession of classified documents, AP reported.
The investigations into Trump's conduct have intensified in recent weeks, leading to signs of potential criminal charges. Special Counsel Jack Smith is overseeing the probes into the retention of classified documents.
Despite facing legal challenges and a crowded field of Republican candidates, Trump remains the frontrunner for the 2024 presidential nomination.
The Justice Department and Homeland Security are sending additional federal agents to Miami ahead of Trump’s anticipated court appearance in the coming days. The person spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the sensitive security plans. Trump said he is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon.
Supporters of Trump expressed anger at the federal indictment and criticized the Biden administration. The White House declined to comment, deferring inquiries to the Department of Justice.
A spokesperson for Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC Trump's supporter, Karoline Leavitt said, “The Biden Regime, which is realizing they can't beat or cheat their way to another victory, has taken the unprecedented step to indict President Trump.”
A White House official claimed that it had no foreknowledge of the indictment and learned of it from news reports.
Tim Scott said he felt the justice system’s “scales are weighted” based on politics, in an interview on Fox News on Thursday night.
“In America, every single person is presumed innocent, not guilty,” Scott said, decrying “the weaponization of the Department of Justice against the former president.”
“Continue to pray for our nation and continue to pray that justice prevails,” Scott said.
Trump, as per prosecutors, took around 300 classified documents to his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving the White House. In August of last year, the FBI seized approximately 100 of these documents during a search, underscoring the seriousness of the Justice Department's investigation.
(With inputs from AP)
