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Trump Says He's Been Indicted Over Mar-a-Lago Docs, Told to Appear Tuesday in Court

© AP Photo / Julio CortezRepublican candidate President Donald Trump participates during the second and final presidential debate with Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
Republican candidate President Donald Trump participates during the second and final presidential debate with Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. - Sputnik International, 1920, 08.06.2023
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The announcement comes a day after reports revealed that Trump's legal team had been notified they were the subject of an investigation over the doc seizures. The former president is now expected to appear in court on June 13.
Former US President Donald Trump revealed late Thursday that his legal camp has been informed he's been indicted over classified documents retrieved by FBI agents at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account, a social media site he owns. Spanning over three posts, Trump railed against the indictment, calling it politically motivated and a "DARK DAY" for the United States.

"The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax, even though Joe Biden has 1850 Boxes at the University of Delaware," Trump wrote. "I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States."

The one-time commander-in-chief went on to underscore that he is "an innocent man," adding that he has been summoned to appear at a federal courthouse in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday at 3 p.m. local time.
In a video posted to Truth Social about 40 minutes after his first post, Trump called the indictment "election interference of the highest level. There has never been anything like what's happening. I'm an innocent man, I'm an innocent person."
"I am innocent and we will prove that very, very soundly and hopefully very quickly," he stressed.

Trump is being investigated for his handling of classified documents after he left the White House and obstruction of justice. Last year, the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago estate, seizing thousands of documents, including about 100 that had classified markings.

Court documents also showed that the FBI had subpoenaed security footage from Mar-a-Lago, and alleged that he moved the documents out of a storage room at the estate in an effort to obstruct the investigation.

Trump has claimed that he declassified the documents through the use of his then-presidential powers; however, a recently released audio tape saw Trump in 2021 discussing a Pentagon document that he said was still classified.
Unconfirmed early reports have suggested that Trump has been indicted on seven charges, some of which are said to include the willful retention of national defense information, corruptly concealing documents, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements.
The US Department of Justice has not confirmed Trump's indictment, nor offered any confirmation on what specific charges Trump may face.
Trump further asserted in his social media posts that he received "far more votes than any sitting president in the history of our country," adding that he is leading in the polls against "all candidates, both Democrat and Republican."
His comments echo Newsmax columnist Michael Shannon, who told Sputnik earlier Thursday that the indictment and everything surrounding it was politically motivated.
Pages from the affidavit by the FBI in support of obtaining a search warrant for former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate are photographed Friday, Aug. 26, 2022.  - Sputnik International, 1920, 09.06.2023
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Mar-a-Lago Indictment Designed to Make Trump Reelection 'Impossible'
"This is all part of the process to indict Trump and make it difficult — if not impossible — for him to run for reelection," Shannon told Sputnik. "The entire investigation, raid on Mar–a–Lago and subsequent developments are entirely political and constitute a genuine attack on democracy."
Like Trump, Shannon also pointed out that US President Joe Biden also retained classified documents at his residences and offices from his time as vice president during the Obama administration.
"This is indeed a DARK DAY for the United States of America," Trump wrote. "We are a Country in serious and rapid Decline, but together we will Make America Great Again!"
The former president has faced multiple and piling legal issues since leaving office in 2021. In late March, he was indicted in New York on more than 30 counts related to business fraud. He was also found liable of sexual assault in a civil case stemming from an encounter with a New York City columnist in the early 1990s.

There are other cases that are still under investigation which may result in more charges for Trump. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is looking into his role in providing hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged she had an affair with Trump.

Prosecutors are looking into those payments to see if they violated campaign finance regulations.

Additionally, Atlanta-area District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating alleged efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 presidential election in that state.

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