Former President Donald Trump‘s lawyers have been told he is a target of a federal criminal investigation into possible mishandling of classified information after he left office, according to three sources familiar with communications between the two sides.
Justice Department regulations allow prosecutors to inform people who are the target of a grand jury investigation before prosecutors seek an indictment. According to the department’s handbook, this notification is sent to give people an opportunity to testify before a grand jury before any prosecution is filed. The practice also gives defense attorneys the opportunity to present their case against a prosecution.
On Wednesday, special counsel Jack Smith presented evidence to a grand jury in Miami, Florida, and heard testimony from Taylor Budowich, a former Trump aide and spokesman. The previous grand jury testimony was heard in Washington, DC
That development, two sources said, indicates that if criminal charges are filed, some could be filed in Florida for jurisdictional reasons. Records marked classified were recovered at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Palm Beach home, where at least some of the alleged wrongdoing occurred.
Witnesses who appeared before the Washington grand jury included Mar-a-Lago employees as well as Trump’s close aides and lawyers.
The investigation stems from the National Archives’ efforts to recover White House records that had disappeared from the possession of the federal government. An FBI search at Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 led to the discovery of more than 100 documents with classified marks.
Smith was appointed special counsel in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland. He is also leading an independent investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot, as well as the investigation into the documents.
Trump’s lawyers met with Justice Department officials on Mondayincluding Smith himself, to discuss his concerns about the conduct during the investigation.
Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing in the case and has called the investigation politically motivated.
He posted Tuesday afternoon on Truth Social, his social media platform, that “no one has told me I’m being charged.”
“And it shouldn’t be because I’ve done NOTHING wrong,” Trump wrote.
Trump investigations
More More Catherine Herridge
