The charges and how many years Trump faces in federal Mar-a-Lago indictment
Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on seven criminal charges relating to his alleged mishandling of classified White House documents recovered at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and allegations he tried to obstruct the government’s attempts to retrieve them. The charges carry a maximum 75-year prison sentence if convicted on all counts. The charges include: willfully retaining the national defense documents, conspiring to obstruct justice, withholding the documents, corruptly concealing the records, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal, and making false statements. Trump is accused of retaining classified materials inside his Palm Beach resort that were recovered in two separate FBI raids last year. He claimed he declassified everything that came from the White House, adding that a president has the authority to declassify material “even by thinking about it.” Each charge could carry a prison sentence.
FAQs:
What are the charges against former President Trump?
The charges include willfully retaining national defense documents, conspiring to obstruct justice, withholding documents, corruptly concealing records, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal, and making false statements.
What is the maximum prison sentence that Trump could face?
If convicted on all charges, the ex-president could face a 75-year prison sentence.
What was Trump accused of doing with the classified documents?
Trump is accused of hoarding hundreds of classified materials inside his Palm Beach resort that were recovered in two separate FBI raids last year. He claimed he declassified everything that came from the White House, adding that a president has the authority to declassify material “even by thinking about it.”
What is the Espionage Act?
A section of the Espionage Act prohibits any individual — including the president — from “willfully retaining” national defense information and “fail[ing] to deliver it to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it.”
What is obstructing justice?
Federal law prohibits anyone from making “threats or force” that would “influence, intimidate, or impede” any US officials from conducting their work.
What is the maximum sentence for each charge?
Each charge carries a unique maximum sentence, ranging from 5 years to 20 years, and/or a fine.
Is this indictment related to the January 6th insurrection?
No, this indictment is related to Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents recovered at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Years and Charges: Exploring the Federal Mar-a-Lago Indictment Against Trump
Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted on seven charges relating to his alleged mishandling of classified White House documents. The federal grand jury convened on Thursday and accused Trump of retaining national defense documents, conspiring to obstruct justice, withholding documents, corruptly concealing records, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal, and making false statements. If convicted on all counts, the 76-year-old former commander-in-chief could face a maximum 75-year prison sentence. His lawyer, Jim Trusty, confirmed that all seven charges “break out from an Espionage Act charge.” Federal investigators have alleged that Trump purposely hid hundreds of classified materials inside his Palm Beach resort, Mar-a-Lago, and instructed others to mislead government officials while they were working on gathering classified documents in his possession.