Trump says he has been indicted in classified documents probe


Former President Donald Trump on Thursday evening said he has been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Trump, who is now the first former U.S. president to face federal charges, made the announcement on his Truth Social platform. The indictment was filed in U.S. District Court in Miami by the office of special counsel Jack Smith, people with knowledge of the matter told The New York Times, and Trump said he is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
Two sources briefed on the matter told the Times the former president has been indicted on seven counts, including willful retention of documents, false statements and conspiracy to obstruct, which requires at least two people.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November, has been leading the mishandling of classified documents case as well as a second investigation looking at Trump's attempts to stay in power after losing the 2020 presidential election and how those efforts led to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. A spokesperson for Smith declined to comment on either matter.
Trump is facing other investigations, including a Georgia probe into his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss in the state. In April, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records connected to alleged hush money payments. That trial is scheduled to begin next March.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Is Rachel Reeves going soft on non-doms?
Today's Big Question Chancellor is reportedly considering reversing controversial 40% inheritance tax on global assets of non-doms, after allegations of 'exodus' of rich people
-
Is the G7 still relevant?
Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
A disproven medical theory could be guiding RFK Jr.'s health policy
The Explainer The miasma theory is one of the oldest medical beliefs in history
-
Travel ban: It's back and it's bigger
Feature Trump revives a controversial travel ban, targeting mostly poor, nonwhite countries
-
'Big Oil does not accept responsibility'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
ABA sues Trump over 'law firm intimidation policy'
Speed Read Trump has 'used the vast powers of the executive branch to coerce lawyers,' the lawsuit said
-
Judge orders Trump's NIH grant cuts reversed
Speed Read Trump had attempted to slash more than $1 billion in research grants
-
Trump leaves G7 early, warns Tehran to evacuate
Speed Read Trump claimed to have left the summit due to ongoing issues in the Middle East
-
Ábrego García: Why the White House blinked
Feature Kilmar Ábrego García returns to the U.S. after being illegally deported, but his legal fight is far from over
-
Musk climbs down after messy MAGA breakup
Feature The Tesla CEO apologized after facing backlash for a series of social media posts criticizing Donald Trump
-
Trump tells ICE to hit blue cities, spare farms, hotels
Speed Read Trump has targeted New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles among other cities