Former President Donald Trump gave his supporters a major update Thursday afternoon after news broke that his legal team has met with special counsel Jack Smith.
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Trump declared that his legal team had a “productive” meeting with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and, presumably, Smith, following the receipt of a target letter, which indicated the possibility of another federal indictment being imminent.
“My attorneys had a productive meeting with the DOJ this morning, explaining in detail that I did nothing wrong, was advised by many lawyers, and that an Indictment of me would only further destroy our Country. No indication of notice was given during the meeting — Do not trust the Fake News on anything!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The development marks a significant milestone in the criminal investigation, suggesting that prosecutors might be moving forward with seeking indictments from a grand jury in the coming weeks. The grand jury, responsible for determining whether to indict Trump or others, reconvened earlier Thursday.
According to The Hill:
The former president said last week he had received a target letter from the Justice Department (DOJ) as part of its probe into his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election.
A target letter is often a sign someone could soon face charges in a matter where prosecutors have gathered substantial evidence.
Trump’s Thursday post on Truth Social hinted at a possible defense for his conduct in the aftermath of the 2020 election, which is that he was acting on the advice of attorneys who suggested the results could be overturned.
Trump pursued a multi-pronged plan to remain in office following the 2020 election, turning to the DOJ, state officials and even his own supporters, who violently ransacked the Capitol after then-Vice President Mike Pence refused Trump’s request to overturn the results.
A federal grand jury hearing evidence in the case meets Tuesdays and Thursdays and appeared to be gathered in a courthouse in downtown Washington, D.C., during the duration of the meeting.
Trump’s announcement comes amid reports that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is making preparations to charge Trump with solicitation to commit election fraud and conspiracy to commit election fraud concerning the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
Willis is reportedly contemplating filing separate charges of computer trespass against certain associates of Trump, who are accused of accessing voting machines and copying sensitive election data in Coffee County, Georgia, in January 2021.