Donald Trump is indicted in the middle of the election campaign. He will appear in court on Tuesday. It is the first indictment against an ex-president at the federal level.
Miami – Former U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a new indictment in the midst of an election campaign. The indictment is still sealed. According to Trump's lawyer Jim Trusty, there are seven criminal complaints in connection with the investigation of classified documents by special counsel Jack Smith. The subpoena is scheduled for next Tuesday at 15:00 (local time) in a federal court in Miami, both Trump and his lawyer said on Thursday.
Charges against Trump: He could face up to ten years in prison
The reason for the possible indictment could be the collection, transmission or loss of defense information, suspects Trusty. Last August, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized around 11,000 documents during a raid on Trump's private estate Mar-a-Lago in the US state of Florida – including many with classification levels.
Trump had taken the documents with him from the White House to Mar-a-Lago at the end of his term in January 2021. According to a law, presidents must hand over official documents to the National Archives after the end of their term of office. In addition, there are strict legal rules for dealing with secret documents, including in an espionage law. This can mean up to ten years in prison. Theoretically, the criminal record can be applied to each of the documents individually.
According to the U.S. court, a presidency would also be possible behind bars
At the summons on Tuesday, the ex-president will be formally informed of the allegations made against him. The judge also sets further court dates. Experts consider it unlikely that Trump will be held in the meantime. The process can drag on for years. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence – but that doesn't mean that Trump could not run again as US president. There has not yet been an imprisoned US president, but it would be possible.
Trump is already the first ex-president in U.S. history to be indicted in a U.S. state: In March, he was indicted by the Manhattan prosecutor's office for paying hush money to actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Donald Trump faces a prison sentence if convicted. © IMAGO/Kyle Mazza
Ex-President Trump calls indictment a "witch hunt"
On his online platform "Truth Social", Trump shares his anger regarding the subpoena. "I never thought it possible that something like this could happen to a former president of the United States," he wrote. The former US president wants to run again in the 2024 presidential election. In an online video, he accused President Joe Biden's administration of "instrumentalizing" the Justice Department and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). "They're after me because we're now leading far ahead of Biden in the polls again." The right-wing populist spoke of a "witch hunt" against him and reiterated that he was "innocent".
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Two-part reaction to indictment – Democrats cheer, Republicans are outraged
The reactions are twofold. "Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America," said House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. While the Republicans sharply criticize the indictment, it is welcomed by the Democrats. "For four years, he acted as if he were above the law," said Rep. Adam Schiff. "But he should be treated like any other lawbreaker."
Looking at the polls, the various affairs, scandals and investigations have not harmed Trump – not even the indictments. (AFP/hk)
