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 12, 2023, 2:31 PM 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 12, 2023, 2:31 PM EDT
Miami police prepared for crowds of 5,000 to 50,000
Preparations are underway in Miami ahead of former President Donald Trump's Tuesday appearance in federal court, city officials said at a news conference Monday.
A Federal Protective Service Police officer cordons off an area outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, June 12, 2023, in Miami.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Federal Protective Service Police cars line the sidewalk outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, June 12, 2023, in Miami.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
"We are working very closely with our federal, state and local partners to make sure we have a comprehensive approach" to maintain "peace and order," but also to allow people the right to express themselves, Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez encouraged any demonstrators to be peaceful, adding that officials are prepared for large crowds outside the courthouse.
Federal Protective Service Police officers cordon off an area outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, June 12, 2023, in Miami.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Jun 12, 2023, 1:31 PM EDT
McCarthy defends keeping docs in bathroom: 'A bathroom door locks'
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy went to bat for former President Donald Trump during his first appearance in the Capitol since the 37-count indictment against Trump was handed up in Florida last week.
Speaker of the House McCarthy responds to questions on Trump indictment, Washington, D.C on June 12, 2023.
Shawn Thew/EPA via Shutterstock
Asked by reporters whether it was a good look for Trump to have stored boxes of documents in a Mar-a-Lago bathroom, McCarthy responded, "I don’t know. Is it a good picture to have boxes in a garage that opens all the time?" McCarthy said, drawing comparisons to the circumstances surrounding documents found in President Joe Biden's possession.
"A bathroom door locks," McCarthy added.
A photo contained in the indictment released on June 9, 2023, from the U.S. Southern District of Florida, shows boxes stored in a bathroom of potentially sensitive documents that were found at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.
DOJ via US Southern District of Florida
McCarthy repeatedly slammed the FBI and Department of Justice for failing to indict Biden, falsely equating the crimes Trump allegedly committed with Biden's own handling of classified documents.
"I think President Trump has not been treated equally like everybody else in this process," McCarthy said.
A photo contained in the indictment released on June 9, 2023, from the U.S. Southern District of Florida, shows boxes of potentially sensitive documents stored on the stage in the White and Gold Ballroom that were found at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.
DOJ via US Southern District of Florida
"You raid one house and you don’t raid the other -- that's a little different, and that’s not fair," he said.
McCarthy said he has not spoken to Trump since the indictment was handed up. He said he's read "a lot of portions" of the indictment but not the entire 49-page document that was unsealed Friday.
-ABC News' Allie Pecorin and Gabe Ferris
Jun 12, 2023, 12:17 PM EDT
Trump en route to Florida
Former President Donald Trump has departed Newark Liberty International Airport to head to Florida ahead of his federal court appearance in Miami on Tuesday.
Former President Donald Trump boards his airplane at Newark Liberty International Airport, June 12, 2013, in Newark, N.J.
Bryan Woolston/AP
The plane for former President Donald Trump takes off at Newark Airport heading to Florida, June 12, 2023.
ABC News
Jun 12, 2023, 11:12 AM EDT
Trump leaves Bedminster club to head to Florida
Former President Donald Trump has left his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club to begin his travel day to Florida.
The motorcade for former President Donald Trump passes through the hamlet of Lamington after leaving Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., June 12, 2023.
The hunt for new counsel comes after Trump's attorneys on this case, Jim Trusty and John Rowley, resigned on Friday, just hours after Trump was informed of the indictment.
Federal Protective Service Police talk outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, June 12, 2023, in Miami.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Sources told ABC News that it's unlikely Trump will have a full team set in time for Tuesday's court appearance, but he's expected to have attorney Todd Blanche, who is representing Trump in the Manhattan district attorney's probe into hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels, by his side. Attorney Chris Kise, who is based in Florida and working on other matters on behalf of the former president, is likely to also be in attendance, but plans were not solidified as of Sunday evening, sources said.
