Donald Trump, Associate Charged In 38-Count Indictment: What The Feds Say Ex-President Did With Classified Docs

The federal charges against former President Donald Trump in relation to a classified documents investigation were unsealed Friday afternoon. 

Here's what the indictment shows: 

• The 45th president, along with his associate Walt Nauta, are charged in a 38-count indictment.
• 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information.
• Both individuals face a count of conspiracy to obstruct justice
• “The purpose of the conspiracy was for TRUMP to keep classified documents he has taken with him from the White House and to hide and conceal them from a federal grand jury,” the indictment says.
• Trump also allegedly showed classified documents on more than one occasion to others, including a 2021 meeting in Bedminster, New Jersey.
• Trump referred to a "plan of attack" against the Defense Department (audio recordings of this were first reported by CNN).
• Trump admits on the recording the documents in question were "still a secret."
• Some of the documents are said to have included details, including a map, of a military operation concerning Iran.
• Trump advised that someone from his political action committee "not get too close" to the documents in question.
• The classified docs were kept in various places at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, including “in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage room."
• Some of those boxes were moved by Trump and Nauta to Mar-a-Lago’s business center.
• Nauta, Trump's associate, was on camera moving the boxes.
• Regarding obstruction, Trump allegedly suggested to his lawyer to "destroy documents” sought by the federal subpoena.

Trump insists he did nothing wrong and blasted the allegations as a "Box Hoax." Meanwhile, two of his lead attorneys have resigned.

The ongoing investigation was first opened by U.S. Attorney General, Merrick Garland, on Nov. 18, 2022. Garland appointed special counsel Jack Smith to overseeing the investigation.

President Joe Biden has not commented on the indictment.

This is a developing story. For the full document, click here.

The image was created using artificial intelligence with MidJourney.

Related Link: Oh The Irony: Trump's Allegations Against Clinton In 2016 Are The Same Ones In His Indictment