The nation was shocked last night when former President Donald Trump announced he’s indicted in the investigation of his alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Trump said on Truth Social that he’s been “summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM.” It mark’s the second indictment against the former president this year. In April Trump pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records relating to hush money payments made before the 2016 election. Sources told ABC news that he faces seven criminal charges that carry a combined maximum sentence of seventy-five years.
Trump maintains his innocence and slammed the charges as “election interference.”
While there has been rumblings of charges being brought against Trump for some time, this indictment is truly historic in nature. Although Trump was indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg earlier this year, this one marks the first federal charges against a former president from the Justice Department.
The charges set against him include a violation of the Espionage Act as well as obstruction of justice, destruction or falsification of records, conspiracy, and false statements according to one of his lawyers.
They were issued by special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland last year to oversee the criminal investigations into the classified documents case. Following the announcement, the former president took to Truth Social to argue that the whole affair is more political motivation.
Of course, it wasn’t just Trump who was upset with the news. Many on the right are going after the Biden administration for what they believe to be either political motivation or election interference.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted that this “is indeed a dark day for the United States of America.” McCarthy continued saying: “It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him. Joe Biden kept classified documents for decades. I, and every American who believes in the rule of law, stand with President Trump against this grave injustice. House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable.”
The “weaponization” aspect of McCarthy’s message resonates with messages from other big-name Republicans.
Florida Governor and Republican candidate for president Ron DeSantis tweeted that such a weaponization “represents a mortal threat to a free society.” Another Republican presidential candidate, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, affirmed his belief in the weaponization in federal government in an interview to Fox News.
Vivek Ramaswamy, another 2024 Republican candidate, even vowed to pardon Trump over this indictment if he is elected President. Other Republican candidates didn’t jump right to the President’s side but called for patience and transparency. Former Vice President Mike Pence said in a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt that the DOJ “should unseal this indictment” and provide clarity on the charges.
Former New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, simply said he wants to wait and see the facts of the case. Democrats, of course, are over the moon with the news. Representative Adam Schiff, who led the Russia-gate impeachment charge against Trump during his Presidency, said the indictment “is another affirmation of the rule of law.” As for Biden himself, he contends that his Justice Department does not do his sole bidding.