Special Counsel Jack Smith asserted that the decision to charge President Trump was his, but the foundation for the charges lies solely in Trump’s alleged actions as outlined in the indictments. Smith has faced pressure campaigns from Trump, with one example being the White House’s sharing of a story questioning the FBI’s initial doubts regarding probable cause for the Mar-a-Lago raid. Furthermore, Republicans have inserted a provision in the shutdown deal allowing senators whose phone records were accessed by Smith to sue the Justice Department.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before lawmakers, asserting that Donald Trump’s actions were the foundation for the criminal indictments against him regarding the January 6th insurrection and classified documents. Smith emphasized that the charges stemmed from Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his retention of highly classified documents after leaving office. Smith also defended obtaining phone records of Republican lawmakers, explaining it was necessary due to Trump’s calls to them during the Capitol attack. Democrats praised Smith’s preparedness, while Republicans, who summoned Smith, criticized the investigation as a “political witch hunt.”
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During a closed-door hearing with the House Judiciary Committee, former special counsel Jack Smith stated his team found evidence proving Donald Trump’s “criminal scheme” to overturn the 2020 election results, as well as repeated attempts to obstruct justice regarding classified documents. Smith emphasized that Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after leaving office, storing them in inappropriate locations. Smith’s investigations led to two indictments against Trump, which were later dismissed after Trump won re-election and faced intense scrutiny from Republicans. Smith maintained that his decisions to charge Trump were based on Trump’s actions and were guided by principles of following the law without fear or favor.
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According to portions of his opening statement obtained by the Associated Press, former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith informed lawmakers during a closed-door interview that his team found proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Donald Trump criminally conspired to overturn the 2020 election results. He also stated the team had amassed “powerful evidence” that Trump broke the law by retaining classified documents and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them. Smith emphasized that his decisions were made without regard to Trump’s political affiliations or candidacy, and that he would prosecute a former president based on the same facts regardless of their political party. The private deposition was part of a Republican investigation into Smith’s probes.
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Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are requesting Judge Aileen Cannon release the portion of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report concerning the prosecution of Donald Trump for allegedly hiding classified documents. This request comes after charges against co-defendants were dropped, removing the basis for the earlier order to keep the report sealed. The Democrats, led by Jamie Raskin, argue there is no legal reason to withhold the report, especially with Smith scheduled to testify about its contents in a closed-door deposition. While Cannon’s response is uncertain, the Democrats’ actions may influence her decision, potentially leading to further actions if the party regains the House majority.
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Former President Donald Trump is asserting executive privilege to block access to over 4,000 documents related to the January 6th Capitol riot. This claim is being made in response to a lawsuit from injured police officers seeking information about Trump’s actions that day. The National Archives has revealed that Trump aims to keep these records private, which also includes text messages. Further complicating matters, any documents reluctantly released to the plaintiffs will be sealed, preventing public access to the details of the riot.
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According to a new book excerpt, Justice Department officials believed former President Trump should be arrested after classified documents were found at his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022. During the raid, FBI agents recovered numerous top-secret records, leading officials to express concerns about the potential danger if the documents fell into the wrong hands. Initially, Trump avoided charges, but later faced 37 felony counts related to the mishandling of the records before the charges were eventually dismissed. Trump has since asserted the raid was politically motivated and is seeking damages, claiming he was greatly harmed by the investigations.
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In August 2022, the FBI conducted a surprise raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, uncovering highly sensitive classified documents. Internal discussions revealed the gravity of the materials, including those detailing covert operations, and the potential risk to national security. The Justice Department, initially hesitant due to Trump’s position, faced the dilemma of how to proceed. Ultimately, a special counsel was appointed, leading to Trump’s indictment on felony counts related to the mishandling of these records.
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In a recent development, John Bolton, former national security advisor under the Trump administration, has been indicted on 18 counts related to the alleged illegal transmission and retention of classified documents. Bolton, who published a tell-all book critical of Trump, claims the charges are politically motivated and part of a “retribution campaign” against him. He asserts that the book’s contents were cleared for publication and that he is being targeted to intimidate dissent. This indictment follows a pattern of legal actions against Trump critics, raising questions about potential political influence in the Justice Department.
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In 2023, a 40-count felony indictment was brought against Trump concerning the handling of classified documents after his presidency. Despite the government’s attempts to retrieve the documents before initiating a criminal investigation, and even after the investigation began, Trump allegedly refused to return them and attempted to obstruct the investigation. This case was ultimately dismissed when Trump won the election in 2024. Consequently, it is unlikely Trump will face repercussions for his actions, as he continues to attack those who investigated him.
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John Q. Hosedrinker