Indictment unsealed
The 49-page indictment against former President Donald Trump has been unsealed.
Trump has been 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 alleges Trump had "lawful access to the most sensitive classified documents and national defense information gathered and owned by the United States government."
During his presidency, prosecutors said, Trump gathered classified documents and other materials in boxes, including "information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its Allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack. The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods."
Trump at least twice showed classified documents to others, prosecutors said, on separate occasions in 2021 at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Trump aide Walt Nauta was charged with six counts: 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.
Prosecutors described an exchange between Nauta and an unnamed member of the Trump family shortly after Nauta allegedly removed dozens of boxes from their storage location inside Trump's Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.
On May 30, 2022, prosecutors said the Trump family member texted Nauta: Good afternoon Walt, Happy Memorial Day! I saw you put boxes to Potus room. Just FYI and I will tell him as well: Not sure how many he wants to take on Friday on the plane. We will NOT have a room for them. Plane will be full with luggage. Thank you!"
Prosecutors said Nauta replied: Good Afternoon Ma’am [Smiley Face Emoji] Thank you so much. I think he wanted to pick from them. I don’t imagine him wanting to take the boxes. He told me to put them in the room and that he was going to talk to you about them."
The indictment alleges that Nauta removed about 11 boxes from the storage room on June 1, 2022.
