Trump’s initial response to the allegations
During a campaign appearance in Columbus, Georgia, Trump described the allegations as “ridiculous”, baseless and one of the most heinous cases of abuse of power in US history. “It’s an assassination of a political contract,” the Republican presidential nominee raged. US President Joe Biden is trying to “imprison his main political competitor,” Trump claimed, announcing:
He will never give in, let himself be influenced or stop fighting, the ex-president proclaimed to the cheers of his supporters at the first public appearance after the indictment was announced. The 76-year-old is seeking to run again in the 2024 election and is currently leading the field of Republican candidates in polls.
What Trump is accused of
In the affair surrounding Trump’s handling of secret government documents from his tenure, the US judiciary has filed charges against him. The 49-page indictment was released Friday. It lists seven categories of crimes and Trump is charged with more than 35 crimes in total. His charges include conspiracy to obstruct investigations and unlawful retention of highly sensitive information, including details of U.S. and foreign nuclear capabilities and U.S. military contingency plans.
The background is Trump’s handling of classified government documents after his departure from the White House. In August, the FBI searched his private Mar-a-Lago home in Florida and seized numerous classified documents from his tenure, some of them at the highest level of classification. Trump’s residence is not a private residence but a club with rooms for paying guests and many events such as weddings.
The charge
The indictment states that Trump kept boxes of classified information in, among other things, his bedroom, a bathroom, a shower, a ballroom and a storage room. Some of the boxes would have stood temporarily in a space where public events took place. A storage room for documents was easily accessible through a public swimming pool.
Trump is accused of, among other things, deliberately storing national defense information. This point falls under the US Espionage Act and alone is punishable by up to ten years in prison. According to the indictment, documents that investigators found on Trump’s premises related to the defense capabilities of the US and other countries, including nuclear weapons, and military weaknesses in the defense of the US and its partners. Possible military options of unnamed states were also discussed. Other documents dealt with foreign support for terrorist attacks against the United States.
The researchers describe how Trump talked to other people about the information, some of which was top secret, or showed it to third parties. Trump has actively tried to thwart the investigation against him, according to the indictment. To this end, he conspired with his assistant Walt Nauta, who was also reported against. Trump instructed the employee, among other things, to take boxes elsewhere. He would have suggested to a lawyer to hide or destroy documents.
Trump shoots at anyone and everyone
Trump reassessed the allegations on Saturday as election interference, again accusing Biden and his Democrats of trying to prevent him from returning to the White House in this way. “They cheat, they are corrupt,” Trump said. In view of the – now second – charge against him, he said: “The only good thing about it is that it drove up my polls.” The fundraising for his election campaign also went “through the roof”.
It is the first time that a federal charge has been filed against a former US president. Trump was already indicted at the state level in New York in April for paying hush money to a porn star. Trump is also under investigation in other cases, including in Georgia. His attempts to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election are under investigation there. So far, the allegations related to the documents carry the heaviest legal weight.
Trump insulted Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation into the government documents and is also investigating Trump for his campaign against the 2020 election results. Smith was “mentally disturbed”, a “coward” and a proven “Trump hater,” the Republican scolded.
This is how (some) Republicans react
His former deputy Mike Pence, who is also a candidate for president and thus challenged the ex-boss, refrained from an open attack against Trump on Saturday. Speaking in North Carolina, Pence said he would be presumed innocent until proven guilty. The people now need to hear from Attorney General Merrick Garland and Trump’s defense. “Then each of us can make our own judgment as to whether this is the latest example of a dishonest working Justice Department or not.”
Two rivals within the party, who are also running as Republican presidential nominees, sharply attacked Trump. Former Trump confidant and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie told CNN, “These facts are devastating.” The party and the voters must ask themselves whether such a person is the right person for the highest office in the state. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has called on Trump to withdraw his presidential bid in light of the allegations. So far, however, prominent party figures among Republicans have supported Trump. (con/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
