Topline
Former President Donald Trump told right-wing radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday he would have “no prohibition against running” for president in 2024 if he is indicted in the Justice Department’s criminal probe into classified documents he took to his Mar-A-Lago home, and that the country would face “big problems” if he is indicted.
Former President Donald Trump said he has no problems about running for president in 2024—even if he … [+]
Key Facts
Trump told Hewitt he couldn’t imagine being indicted, having “done nothing wrong,” and threatened that if he is indicted, there would be “problems in this country, the likes of which we haven’t seen before.”
When asked if those problems include the potential for violent acts, Trump said he’s “not inciting violence” and that the “people of this country wouldn’t stand for” an indictment.
Trump said he’s had “very good and positive discussions” with the Justice Department, although National Archives officials are not sure whether Trump returned classified White House information, according to a letter from House Oversight Committee chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) sent on Tuesday.
Trump repeated his claim that he declassified the documents taken to Mar-A-Lago, a claim that his lawyers have not made, which counters the Justice Department’s allegations in court filings that classified documents were being held at Mar-A-Lago.
Key Background
The Department of Justice is investigating whether Trump violated federal statutes, including the Espionage Act, after 33 boxes of White House records were uncovered in an FBI raid last month at his Florida home at Mar-A-Lago. He had returned more than 15 boxes of records in January; however, an informant tipped off the FBI months later that there were more documents. Earlier this month, a federal judge approved Trump’s request for a special master, putting the DOJ’s review of the documents on hold.
Tangent
President Joe Biden’s approval, meanwhile, has surged 9 percentage points over the past two months, to 45%, the highest it’s been since April, according to an AP/NORC poll released Thursday, following several key political victories, including lowering gas prices and the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Biden has stated repeatedly he plans to run in 2024, although first lady Jill Biden said this week they have not had any discussions on reelection. Recent polls, however, show that most Americans don’t want Biden or Trump to run in 2024.
Further Reading
President Biden And First Lady Haven’t Discussed Running For Reelection Yet, Jill Biden Says (Forbes)
Major Bump In Biden’s Approval Ratings But Majority Still Disapprove, Poll Finds (Forbes)
Bannon Indicted In New York For Border Wall Scheme—Here Are The Charges He’s Facing (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/15/trump-no-prohibition-against-running-if-indicted-in-mar-a-lago-probe/