Trump now says there was ‘NO indication’ of a third indictment during meeting with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office
Trump now says there was ‘NO indication’ of a third indictment during meeting with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office
- Prosecutors from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team met with attorneys representing Trump at the Justice Department on Thursday
- Smith investigates whether the former president and his allies interfered in the post-2020 election transfer of power
- It will be the third set of criminal charges against Trump since he launched his campaign to return to the White House in 2024.
Donald Trump’s lawyers held brief talks with special counsel Jack Smith’s office on Thursday, but the former president insisted there was “no indication” of a third indictment over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Prosecutors on Smith’s team met with Todd Blanche and John Laura — attorneys representing the former president — at the Justice Department on Thursday, NBC News first reported. At the meeting, they reportedly “expected” a third charge.
Trump confirmed the meeting in a post on his Truth Social account, but refuted reports that a third indictment is imminent.
“My lawyers had a productive meeting with the DOJ this morning and explained in detail that I did nothing wrong, was advised by many lawyers, and that indicting me would only further destroy our country. There was no mention of it during the meeting – Don’t trust the Fake News!’ he added.
Smith is investigating whether Trump and his allies interfered in the transition of power after the 2020 election. He also indicted Trump last month on 37 counts of criminal charges, including obstruction of justice for his handling of classified material, to which the former president was innocent pleaded.
Donald Trump’s lawyers held brief talks with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office as he braced for an indictment against his attempt to overturn the election
Trump confirmed last week that he had received a letter from the Justice Department confirming that he is the focus of the criminal investigation and that he expected to be arrested “soon.”
It will be the third set of criminal charges against Trump since he launched his campaign to return to the White House in 2024.
His trusted White House aide, Walt Nauta, was also indicted in the classified documents scandal.
Trump has also been indicted by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg for falsifying business records, which he has also denied.
In addition, the Fulton County District Attorney in Georgia is investigating Trump for allegedly attempting to undermine that state’s 2020 election — which could lead to even more criminal charges.
The grand jury investigating Jan. 6 is still convening this week and hearing key witnesses in the case.
Trump has repeatedly dismissed the Jan. 6 inquiry as a “witch hunt,” claiming it is election interference because he is leading in the polls.
He has also accused President Joe Biden of “going after his ‘political opponent number one’.”
The former president plans to go on the offensive by working with his closest Republican Hill allies to expose “hypocrisy” in the Hunter Biden criminal investigation and the “cover up” of the Biden family.
First, GOP leaders plan to point out the “hypocrisy” with how the investigation into the president’s son, Hunter Biden, was handled versus the Trump investigation.
They will point to the many whistleblowers who have raised the alarm about the progress of the Hunter investigation.
Two IRS whistleblowers have alleged that the president’s son had received favorable treatment from investigators, including a pattern by the DOJ and IRS leadership of “sluggish investigative steps” and delays in enforcement action.
Former President Donald Trump faces 37 charges related to mishandling classified documents found in bathroom and other unsecured locations at Mar-a-Lago
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said the entire case against the former president is politically motivated
The second focus of the Republicans’ Trump defense, a source told DailyMail.com, will be to draw attention to the “suspicious” timing of the indictments, which have come around major announcements by Republicans involving shady business dealings of reveal the Biden family.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said the entire case against the former president is politically motivated.
Recently, President Trump rose in the polls and even surpassed President Biden for re-election. So what are they doing now? Arm the government to go after their No. 1 opponent,” he told reporters.
“This is not equal justice. They treat people differently and go after their opponents,” McCarthy added last week.