DOJ Ready to Ask for Donald Trump Indictment on Espionage Act, Obstruction Charges
Things are changing rapidly in the investigation into Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left the White
Ivy Griffith
Things are changing rapidly in the investigation into Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left the White House in January 2021.
According to multiple reports online, Department of Justice prosecutors are ready to ask for an indictment for Trump on charges that could relate to the Espionage Act and obstruction.
The vote on whether or not to indict could come as early as Thursday, according to the reports.
The Independent reports, “The Independent has learned that prosecutors are ready to ask grand jurors to approve an indictment against Mr Trump for violating a portion of the US criminal code known as Section 793, which prohibits ‘gathering, transmitting or losing’ any ‘information respecting the national defence’.
BREAKING: Massive bombshell drops on Donald Trump as it’s revealed that the Justice Department is preparing to ask a D.C. grand jury to indict him for violating the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice.
The indictment could come as soon as tomorrow. The violation of the… pic.twitter.com/DxHAf950bA
— Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) June 7, 2023
The use of Section 793, which does not make reference to classified information, is understood to be a strategic decision by prosecutors that has been made to short-circuit Mr Trump’s ability to claim that he used his authority as president to declassify documents he removed from the White House and kept at his Palm Beach, Florida property long after his term expired on 20 January 2021.”
That particular section of the criminal law is written specifically to encompass those who legally information. Which means that even if Trump was authorized to possess the information, he still can’t pass it to enemies of the state.
The law reads that anyone who “lawfully having possession of, access to, control over, or being entrusted with any document …relating to the national defense,” and “willfully communicates, delivers, transmits or causes to be communicated, delivered, or transmitted or attempts to communicate, deliver, transmit or cause to be communicated, delivered or transmitted the same to any person not entitled to receive it, or willfully retains the same and fails to deliver it on demand to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it” can be punished by as much as 10 years in prison.
While the vote on indictment is expected to occur Thursday, it could be delayed by a full week until the grand jury meets again, ensuring that all of the evidence has been gathered and/or presented.
Meanwhile, as the federal grand jury readies for a vote, a separate grand jury meeting in Florida is hearing evidence related to the documents investigation.
That Florida grand jury was created partly to overcome legal issues posed by the fact that some of the crimes allegedly committed by Trump took place in Florida, not in Washington. Under federal law, prosecutors have to bring charges against federal defendants in the jurisdiction where the crimes took place.
One source familiar with the investigations has shared that Trump’s team was recently informed that he is a “target” of the Justice Department probe. And reports online suggest that his team has been informed that it is Trump the grand jury will meet to vote on charges against.
Trump, however, scoffed at the process on Truth, writing this afternoon, “No one has told me I’m being indicted, and I shouldn’t be because I’ve done NOTHING wrong, but I have assumed for years that I am a Target of the WEAPONIZED DOJ & FBI, starting with the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX, the ‘No Collusion’ Mueller Report, Impeachment HOAX #1, Impeachment HOAX #2, the PERFECT Ukraine phone call, and various other SCAMS & WITCH HUNTS. A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE & ELECTION INTERFERENCE AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE. REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS MUST MAKE THIS THEIR # 1 ISSUE!!!”
Trump’s legal team meeting with prosecutors early this week would suggest, however, that he could know more than he’s willing to admit to followers.
This is a developing story.