Trump Told He’s Under Federal Criminal Investigation—Signaling Potential End To Probe

Topline

The Justice Department has formally informed former President Donald Trump’s attorneys that he is the target of a criminal probe, according to multiple reports, suggesting Special Counsel Jack Smith could soon decide whether to pursue charges against the ex-president.

Key Facts

The investigation involves Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-A-Lago, according to the Guardian, citing two unnamed sources.

Trump’s attorneys were told about the investigation last week, the news outlet reported.

Neither the Justice Department nor Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign immediately responded to requests for comment from Forbes.

Key Background

The revelation comes just days after Trump’s attorneys met with Smith to discuss the case. A Washington-based grand jury reconvened this week to examine evidence concerning Trump, according to NBC News, while a previously unknown Florida grand jury is also involved with the investigation, hearing testimony from former Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich on Wednesday. Federal prosecutors have not publicly said whether the investigation is nearing its conclusion or whether they plan to bring charges against Trump, but the fact they’re expected to make a decision soon has raised concerns among Trump’s allies of a potential indictment. That led to some confusion Wednesday, after Trump-supporting journalist John Solomon claimed prosecutors told Trump he will likely be indicted. Trump strongly denied the report in a Truth Social post Wednesday afternoon, saying: “No one has told me I’m being indicted, and I shouldn’t be because I’ve done NOTHING wrong.”

What To Watch For

Justice Department court filings have suggested prosecutors are reviewing whether Trump violated three federal statutes, most notably the Espionage Act, which states it is a crime to “willfully retain” documents concerning national defense.

Big Number

More than 11,000. That’s how many documents federal agents recovered during a raid of Mar-A-Lago in August, including 325 marked classified. Prosecutors say Trump spent months dodging a subpoena requiring him to turn over the records.

Tangent

Prosecutors are also reportedly reviewing surveillance footage to determine whether anyone at Mar-A-Lago knowingly mishandled the records. A Mar-A-Lago employee who was draining the club’s swimming pool flooded a server room in October where video surveillance records are stored, according to CNN, though it’s not believed any relevant equipment was damaged. Prosecutors are reportedly uncertain whether the flooding was an accident or intentional.

Further Reading

Trump Documents Investigation Heating Up: Here’s What We Know As Ex-President’s Attorneys Meet With DOJ (Forbes)

Mar-A-Lago Raid: FBI Investigating Whether Trump Violated These 3 Statutes (Forbes)

Trump’s Swimming Pool Flooded Surveillance Video Room At Mar-A-Lago, Report Says (Forbes)