Trump’s Legal Defense Confronts Potential Indictment in Meeting with Special Counsel
Lawyers representing former President Donald Trump convened on Thursday morning for a crucial meeting with special counsel Jack Smith’s team,
Nik Richie
Lawyers representing former President Donald Trump convened on Thursday morning for a crucial meeting with special counsel Jack Smith’s team, as the looming prospect of a potential indictment casts a shadow over the former president. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the meeting took place, adding to the high-stakes legal drama surrounding Trump’s post-presidential affairs.
Shortly after the meeting, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his concerns, stating that there was “no indication of notice” given regarding a pending indictment. Trump’s attorneys, John Lauro and Todd Blanche, engaged in discussions with Smith’s team following the receipt of a target letter, which alerted Trump to his status as a target in the special counsel’s investigation into alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The primary objective of Trump’s legal team during the meeting was to present arguments for why they believed Trump should not face indictment. Smith himself was present during the hour-long session, sources disclosed.
An indictment, if it materializes, would be the third one for the former president. Trump was indicted last month on 37 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials, and he has pleaded not guilty to all charges. In a separate case, Trump pleaded not guilty in April to a 34-count indictment from the Manhattan District Attorney, which accused him of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Trump’s legal battles have thrust the issue of presidential indictments into the spotlight, as no former or current president had ever been indicted before Trump faced charges in the hush money case.
Confirming the meeting’s occurrence on his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that his attorneys had a productive session with the Department of Justice (DOJ), vigorously defending his actions and denying any wrongdoing. Trump claimed that he had been advised by multiple lawyers and expressed concerns that an indictment against him would further damage the country.
The target letter, which Trump received on July 16, outlined three federal statutes under scrutiny: conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud the United States, deprivation of rights under a civil rights statute, and tampering with a witness, victim, or informant.