Federal prosecution of Donald Trump



United States v. Donald J. Trump, et al. is a pending federal criminal case against Donald Trump and a personal aide of his, Walt Nauta. The grand jury indictment, filed June 8, 2023, lists 37 felony counts related to Trump's handling of government documents after his presidency, with thirty-one of those counts falling under the Espionage Act.

Statement by Special Counsel Jack Smith on the indictment of Donald Trump

 * "Special Counsel Jack Smith Delivers Statement" (June 9, 2023) · Special Counsel Jack Smith's statement on Trump indictment CNN video (June 9, 2023)

This indictment was voted by a grand jury of citizens in the Southern District of Florida, and I invite everyone to read it in full to understand the scope and the gravity of the crimes charged.
 * Today, an indictment was unsealed charging Donald J. Trump with felony violations of our national security laws as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Adherence to the rule of law is a bedrock principle of the Department of Justice. And our nation’s commitment to the rule of law sets an example for the world. We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone. Applying those laws. Collecting facts. That’s what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more. Nothing less. The prosecutors in my office are among the most talented and experienced in the Department of Justice. They have investigated this case hewing to the highest ethical standards. And they will continue to do so as this case proceeds. It’s very important for me to note that the defendants in this case must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. To that end, my office will seek a speedy trial in this matter.
 * The men and women of the United States intelligence community and our armed forces dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and its people. Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced. Violations of those laws put our country at risk.

Quotes in chronological order, oldest first

 * I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM. 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. I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!
 * Web posting, reported in "Trump told to appear in Miami after indictment by federal grand jury, ABC reporting" in WPLG Local 10 (June 8, 2023)


 * “We are going to fight like hell, and we’re going to hang it on Joe Biden every day that he did this,” said Chris LaCivita, a top Trump adviser.
 * Chris LaCivita, quoted in "‘We are getting pretty good at this’: Trump and aides plot indictment response" in The New York Times (June 9, 2023)


 * As for Trump, say what you want about Democrats being out to destroy him. I know all about that — wrote a book about it, in fact. But if Trump ends up being destroyed in this case, it will be based on the accounts of people who had his best interests at heart. I don’t believe that Trump’s lawyers, who were trying to help him, would testify — as they have very reluctantly testified — that he tried to get them to destroy evidence and obstruct justice, unless he really did try to get them to destroy evidence and obstruct justice.


 * Andrew C. McCarthy in "Trump’s Indictment Is Worse Than You Think It Is" in National Review (June 10, 2023)


 * If you tell me I need to look the other way on that because Hillary Clinton got a pass, I respectfully suggest that you’ve lost your way.
 * Andrew C. McCarthy in "Trump’s Indictment Is Worse Than You Think It Is" in National Review (June 10, 2023)


 * The president’s daily brief provided by the intelligence community is not Donald J. Trump’s personal document, period.”
 * Former Attorney General William Barr, quoted in "The impossible challenge of telling Trump fans the truth" Washington Post (June 11, 2023


 * Virtually everyone is saying that the Indictment is about Election Interference & should not have been brought, except Bill Barr... Barr’s doing it because he hates ‘TRUMP’ for firing him. He was deathly afraid of the Radical Left when they said they would Impeach him. He knows the Indictment is Bull….
 * Donald Trump on social media, quoted in "The impossible challenge of telling Trump fans the truth" Washington Post (June 11, 2023