Trump says he'll plead not guilty after federal indictment

Former President Donald Trump's attorney, Jim Trusty, told ABC News' Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on Friday that Trump is "resilient" and "not crumbling in fear."

"He's a pretty resilient, he's a pretty tough-to-hide person, so he's not crumbling in fear," Trusty said on "Good Morning America."

Trusty said the team had received a summons to appear in Miami on Tuesday, which he said included a summary of the charges they expect to see in the indictment.

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Trump attorney talks indictment in classified docs case

James Trusty, a lawyer for former President Donald Trump, discusses how his team plans to fight the federal charges tied to the investigation into his handling of classified documents.

ABCNews.com

Trusty attempted to downplay the charges and the entire investigation, calling it a "regular dispute about documents in a former president's home," while attacking the Department of Justice.

"It puts a stamp of reality on something that really is unreal in terms of the weaponization of the Department," Trusty said.

Trusty also tried to falsely equate the crimes Trump allegedly committed with President Joe Biden's own handling of classified documents. Trusty also argued the crimes had no criminal basis under the Presidential Records Act, though Trump is reportedly facing charges under the Espionage Act, as well as obstruction of justice, false statement and other charges.

-ABC News' Olivia Rubin

Some of Trump's 2024 rivals have started to weigh in following news of a federal indictment against the former president.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis denounced on social media the "weaponization of federal law enforcement" and said that a "DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all."

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a statement to ABC News that the criminal proceedings are a "major distraction" and "reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to respect the office and end his campaign."

"With the news that Donald Trump has been indicted for the second time, our country finds itself in a position that weakens our democracy," Hutchinson said. "Donald Trump's actions -- from his willful disregard for the Constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law -- should not define our nation or the Republican Party. This is a sad day for our country."

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told PBS that if Trump "committed a crime and there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to prove that crime, then he must be charged," and that not doing so would set the rule of law in the U.S. back.

Christie later tweeted, "We don't get our news from Trump's Truth Social account. Let's see what the facts are when any possible indictment is released. As I have said before, no one is above the law, no matter how much they wish they were. We will have more to say when the facts are revealed."

Sources tell ABC News that former President Trump faces at least seven charges in the federal indictment:

-Willful retention of national defense information (maximum penalty if convicted: 10 years)
-Conspiracy to obstruct justice (maximum penalty: 20 years)
-Withholding a document or record (maximum penalty: 20 years)
-Corruptly concealing a document or record (maximum penalty: 20 years)
-Concealing a document in a federal investigation (maximum penalty: 20 years)
-Scheme to conceal (maximum penalty: Five years)
-False statements and representations (maximum penalty: Five years)

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, John Santucci and Alexander Mallin

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called news of Trump's federal indictment "unconscionable" and said House Republicans will "hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable."

The speaker is the first of the Big Four to comment on Trump's second indictment.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller