Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on seven counts in the special counsel’s classified documents probe, making him the first former president of the United States to face federal charges.
According to his attorney, Trump is facing a charge under the Espionage Act. He also faces charges of obstruction of justice, destruction or falsification of records, conspiracy and false statements.
“The classified documents Trump stored in his boxes included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack,” the indictment states. “The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods.”
Trump reacted to the news on his Truth Social platform. He told his followers that he had been “summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM.”
“The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax,” Trump wrote.
Thursday evening, Trump released a four-minute video telling his supporters that the Justice Department is being weaponized.
“I am an innocent man. I did nothing wrong,” Trump said in the video.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted that it was “a dark day for the United States of America.”
