Trump says he'll plead not guilty after federal indictment
Trump is set to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday.
Last Updated: June 13, 2023, 10:43 AM EDT
To read live updates from Tuesday's court appearance, click here.
Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on federal charges in an investigation into his handling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed on Friday.
The indictment comes after more than 100 documents with classified markings were found at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022.
Trump was charged with 37 counts: 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information; one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice; one count of withholding a document or record; one count of corruptly concealing a document or record; one count of concealing a document in a federal investigation; one count of scheme to conceal; and one count of false statements and representations.
The indictment of Trump, who has repeatedly denied any allegations of impropriety, is unprecedented for a former president.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jun 09, 2023, 12:19 PM EDT
Trump aide Walt Nauta charged by special counsel
Walt Nauta, an aide to former President Donald Trump, has been charged by the special counsel as part of the probe into Trump’s taking of classified information, ABC News has learned.
In this March 13, 2023, file photo, Walt Nauta, aid to former President Donald Trump, follows Trump as they board his airplane, known as Trump Force One, in route to Iowa, at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE
Nauta was indicted by the same grand jury in Florida, sources told ABC News. It is not immediately clear what the exact charges are and an attorney for Nauta declined to comment when contacted by ABC News.
Nauta served as a valet in the Trump White House and left his role to join Trump as a personal aide in early 2021.
Trump praised Nauta in a Truth Social post, writing that he was a Navy veteran "who served proudly with me in the White House, retired as Senior Chief, and then transitioned into private life as a personal aide."
"He has done a fantastic job!" Trump said.
-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Jack Date and John Santucci
Jun 09, 2023, 12:07 PM EDT
Trump attorneys resign in documents case
In the wake of the indictment, two of former President Donald Trump's lawyers have submitted their resignations.
Jim Trusty and John Rowley said they were stepping down in a joint statement.
President Donald Trump's lawyers, James Trusty, left, and John Rowley, right, leave the Department of Justice, June 5, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
"This morning we tendered our resignations as counsel to President Trump, and we will no longer represent him on either the indicted case or the January 6 investigation," they wrote.
Trump, meanwhile, claimed Friday that he had removed two of his attorneys representing him in the documents probe and "will be announcing additional lawyers in the coming days."
"I want to thank Jim Trusty and John Rowley for their work," Trump said on Truth Social, "but they were up against a very dishonest, corrupt, evil, and 'sick' group of people, the likes of which has not been seen before."
In this April 4, 2023, file photo, attorney Todd Blanche is seen as anti-Trump demonstrators and Trump supporters gather outside the Manhattan courthouse where former US President Donald Trump's court hearing is taking place in New York.
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE
-ABC News' Olivia Rubin
Jun 09, 2023, 10:34 AM EDT
Romney: Trump 'brought these charges upon himself'
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said in a statement Friday that Donald Trump "brought these charges upon himself by not only taking classified documents, but by refusing to simply return them when given numerous opportunities to do so."
"These allegations are serious and if proven, would be consistent with his other actions offensive to the national interest, such as withholding defensive weapons from Ukraine for political reasons and failing to defend the Capitol from violent attack and insurrection," Romney said.
The senator added that he thinks it appears "the Justice Department and special counsel have exercised due care" and offered Trump "time and opportunity to avoid charges that would not generally have been afforded to others."
Sen. Mitt Romney arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 16, 2022.
Alex Brandon/AP
Jun 09, 2023, 10:01 AM EDT
Pence calls DOJ politicized but adds 'no one is above the law'
Former Vice President Mike Pence, Donald Trump's former running mate turned 2024 presidential campaign rival, said on "The Hugh Hewitt Show" Friday that he was unhappy about the indictment, but added that "no one is above the law."
"I'm deeply troubled to see this indictment move forward," Pence said.
"But let me be very clear: No one is above the law," he added.
"We have to protect our nation's secrets. And my only hope is, as we learn about the facts of this indictment next week, that the American people will see in this case that it would meet a high standard necessary to justify the unprecedented federal indictment of a former president of the United States by, by the current president of the United States' Justice Department and by a potential rival," Pence said.
With his wife Karen by his side, former Vice President Mike Pence greets diners during a visit to a Pizza Ranch restaurant on June 08, 2023 in Waukee, Iowa.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Pence also called for the indictment to be unsealed and for Attorney General Merrick Garland to address the nation.
"I think before the sun sets today, the attorney general of the United States should be standing in front of the American people, should unseal this indictment, should provide the American people with all the facts and information here. And the American people be able to judge for themselves whether this is just the latest incident of weaponization and politicization at the Justice Department or it's something different," he said.
When asked if FBI Director Christopher Wray "needs to go," Pence did not respond directly but said he would "clean house" if elected president.
"Whether it's the Justice Department or whether it's the FBI, I think -- I just think we need a whole new team. I think there's been a, you know, literally a collapse of confidence," Pence said.
