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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
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.
-
The US-China trade war comes to Hollywood
Under the Radar China's retaliatory restrictions on foreign films will hurt the US film industry
By Genevieve Bates
-
Ione Skye's 6 favorite books about love and loss
Feature The actress recommends works by James Baldwin, Nora Ephron, and more
By The Week US
-
Book review: 'Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus' and 'When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines'
Feature The college dropout who ruled the magazine era and the mysteries surrounding Jesus Christ
By The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
The Resistance: Is it finally taking off?
Feature Mass protests erupted across all 50 states during the 'Hands Off!' demonstrations against the Trump administration
By The Week US
-
Loomer: Feeding Trump's paranoia
Feature Trump fires National Security Council officials after the conspiracy theorist attended a meeting in the Oval Office
By The Week US
-
Inflation: How tariffs could push up prices
Feature Trump's new tariffs could cost families an extra $3,800 a year
By The Week US
-
DOGE: Have we passed 'peak Musk'?
Feature The tech billionaire suffered a costly week after a $25 million election loss in Wisconsin and Tesla's largest sale drop on record
By The Week US
-
Tariffs: Time for Congress to take over?
Feature Senators introduce a bill that would require any new tariffs to be approved by Congress
By The Week US
-
A running list of Trump's second-term national security controversies
In Depth Several scandals surrounding national security have rocked the Trump administration
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Why the GOP is nervous about Ken Paxton's Senate run
Today's Big Question A MAGA-establishment battle with John Cornyn will be costly
By Joel Mathis, The Week US