Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, was taken into custody and officially indicted on charges related to improper storage of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence. His arrest was carried out at a federal courthouse in Miami.
Throngs of demonstrators gathered outside the Miami federal courthouse earlier on Tuesday, showcasing a mix of responses to Trump's indictment, with some backing his prosecution and others maintaining his innocence.
On Monday, Trump was seen departing his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, en route to Florida. Reports suggest that he plans to return to New Jersey to address the case in a speech later tonight.
On his way to the Miami courthouse on Tuesday morning, Trump utilized his platform on Truth Social, characterizing the day as "one of the saddest days in the history of our country," and decrying the events as a "WITCH HUNT!!!"
As previously reported, the indictment alleges that Trump improperly stored a significant amount of classified information in various locations within his Palm Beach resort. Images presented in court showed numerous boxes stacked in a ballroom, a storage area, and even adjacent to a restroom.
Federal authorities argue that the documents contained critical information about U.S. and foreign nations' defense and weapons systems, U.S. nuclear programs, and highly sensitive data concerning the country's potential vulnerabilities to military attacks.
The indictment reveals that Trump faces a staggering 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information.
Additionally, he is charged with six separate counts, including false statements and representations, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corrupt concealment of a document, concealing a document in a federal investigation, and orchestrating a scheme to conceal.
In an interview with Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson, she explained that this indictment is unlikely to derail his 2024 campaign aspirations, suggesting the surprising possibility of him serving as president while incarcerated.
Worth noting, Trump announced the indictment on Truth Social before the charges were officially made public, maintaining his innocence throughout.
This latest legal trouble for the former President comes barely two months after his indictment by a New York grand jury over his alleged role in the Stormy Daniels hush money scandal.