What's true and false about Trump's indictment in classified docs case
usatoday.com - 11 months ago - Read On Original Website
Former President Donald Trump made history when he became the first former president to face federal charges.
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Is there potential for further legal action to be taken against Donald Trump?
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37-count indictment
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federal indictment
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is facing 37 federal felony charges
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second indictment
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faces another criminal indictment
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indictment charging former President Donald J. Trump with seven crimes
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Trump has now been indicted
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could face additional legal troubles given that he is the target of several additional ongoing civil and criminal investigations
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is bringing charges that could result in jail time
On June 8, a federal grand jury indicted Trump on 37 counts related to his alleged storing of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after he left the White House in 2021.
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What charges is Donald Trump facing related to classified documents?
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37-count indictment over mishandling
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felony
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federal crimes
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holding back highly
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alleged mishandling
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another criminal indictment
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willful retention of classified information and obstruction of justice
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38
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retaining government
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wilfully mishandling
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Espionage Act
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violating the federal Espionage Act
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37 counts of illegally hoarding
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alleged violations of the 1917 Espionage Act and obstruction of justice
Trump was arraigned June 13 at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse in Florida, where he pleaded not guilty to all counts. The charges against Trump include alleged violations of the 1917 Espionage Act and obstruction of justice.
In the leadup to Trump's indictment, misinformation spread online about the charges Trump faces, President Joe Biden's role in the case and other officials' handling of classified records. False claims also circulated about key figures in the case, including Attorney General Merrick Garland and District Judge Aileen Cannon.
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Are other individuals or entities implicated in the indictment?
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It
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Joe Biden, Mike Pence and Hillary Clinton
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Archives, the FBI, and even his own lawyers
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both Mr. Trump and an aide, Walt Nauta
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Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden and Pence
Here's a roundup of claims USA TODAY has debunked related to the case:
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Claims about Trump's indictment and key figures in classified documents case
Claim: Merrick Garland stripped Trump of right to run in 2024 after evidence of 'justice obstruction' was found
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What does the indictment mean for Donald Trump's political future?
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could be so damaging
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risks losing the trust of the American public
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has made only the slightest dent on the views of his diehard supporters
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has changed the course of the Republican primary campaign
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is in serious legal jeopardy
Garland does not have the authority to prevent Trump from running for president, according to legal experts. Even if Trump is indicted in the classified documents case, he can still run for president. Read more.
Legal experts said Biden does not have the authority to bring criminal charges against anyone. That authority lies with federal prosecutors. In the classified documents probe, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith made the decision to indict Trump, not Biden. Read more.
Claim: Photo shows US District Judge Aileen Cannon in a 'Team Trump' hat
The photo does not show Cannon, who has been assigned to oversee the federal case related to former President Donald Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents. It shows two Trump supporters at one of his campaign rallies in September 2022. Read more.
Claim: Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden and Pence all took classified documents after leaving White House
While former Vice President Mike Pence and Biden have yet to be charged for improperly having classified documents in their possession, there is no evidence former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton or George H.W. Bush took classified documents with them after leaving the White House. Read more.
Claim: Biden did not have the authority to declassify documents as vice president
Legal experts said Biden had the authority to declassify documents as vice president as the result of a 2009 executive order signed by President Barack Obama. Read more.
A legal expert said no classified records have been found at the University of Delaware. Biden donated 1,850 boxes of documents from his time as a senator to the university. Read more.
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