Former President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that he has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami, Florida. The Department of Justice has reported this development. Trump is expected to appear at the David W. Dyer Federal Building and United States Courthouse next Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET. While Trump did not explicitly confirm the charges pertaining to the confidential documents found at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, he strongly suggested that this is the case. According to The New York Times, multiple sources have disclosed that Trump faces seven counts, including violations of the Espionage Act for willfully retaining national defense secrets and conspiracy to obstruct. The indictment was allegedly filed by John L. Smith, the head of the Department of Justice’s special counsel investigating the Mar-a-Lago documents and Trump’s actions during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Trump Accuses DOJ of Double Standards; Suggests Biden’s Files Should Be Investigated
In a statement via his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump criticized what he perceived as a double standard by the Department of Justice for failing to thoroughly investigate President Joe Biden’s classified files. He further mentioned a series of documents discovered in various locations linked to Biden, including the University of Delaware, Chinatown in Washington D.C., and the University of Pennsylvania.
Trump Asserts His Innocence and Highlights Lead in Polls
As he continues to pursue the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump pointed to polling data that shows him currently leading Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis and President Biden. He maintained his innocence and stated, “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.” Trump characterized his indictment as a “DARK DAY for the United States of America,” emphasizing his belief that the country is in a significant and rapid decline, while pledging to “Make America Great Again.”
Awaiting DOJ Response to Trump’s Announcement
The Department of Justice has yet to respond to or confirm Trump’s announcement. Rumors of the impending indictment by special counsel Smith had circulated earlier this week, but Trump’s statement marks the first official acknowledgement from either party.