Former President Donald Trump announced late Thursday evening that he was going to be indicted by Joe Biden’s Justice Department, which multiple news outlets have since confirmed.
We now know what charges he faces in the coming days when he is arraigned at a federal court in Miami.
According to The New York Times, Trump has been indicted on seven separate charges. Here are the charges that are being reported:
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Deliberate withholding of national defense secrets: Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on this charge, which involves the intentional act of not disclosing important information related to national defense. This charge likely falls under the purview of the Espionage Act, which deals with the protection of classified information.
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Conspiracy to obstruct justice: Trump faces an indictment for conspiring to obstruct justice, indicating that he is accused of collaborating with others to impede or hinder the proper functioning of the justice system. It’s important to note that the charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice requires the involvement of at least two parties who work together to obstruct the legal process.
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Issuance of false statements: Another charge outlined in the indictment is the alleged act of making false statements. This charge suggests that Trump is accused of intentionally providing inaccurate or misleading information to investigators. It is possible that this charge may also be considered a conspiracy charge, as it could require evidence of Trump and at least one other person agreeing to mislead investigators and taking overt actions to further that plan.
“I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election,” Trump said as he announced his indictment.
Several GOP lawmakers have expressed outrage, including one who charged Democrats with “election interference.”
“The SAME DAY [House Oversight Committee] is shown a document by the FBI showing evidence that Biden and his son were each paid $5 million dollars by a foreign national the DOJ indicts Trump. Coincidental? I think not,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., noted on Twitter, per Fox News.
House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York accused Democrats of meddling in the 2024 election. “The exact same day that the FBI is forced to turn over to Congress absolutely damning and credible allegations regarding Joe Biden’s illegal, egregious, and treasonous corruption, Joe Biden weaponizes his Department of Justice to indict Donald Trump,” she said.
“The American people are smart and understand this is the epitome of the illegal and unprecedented weaponization of the federal government against Joe Biden’s leading opponent, President Donald J. Trump. The radical Far Left will stop at nothing to interfere with the 2024 election in order to prop up the catastrophic presidency and desperate campaign of Joe Biden,” Stefanik told Fox News Digital.