Former President Donald Trump could face a second federal indictment after receiving a so-called target letter from special counsel Jack Smith in relation to the criminal investigation into his attempts to retain power after losing the 2020 presidential election.
Uncertainty existed as to which aspects of the extensive investigation the letter may pertain. Trump and his associates employed a variety of schemes to stave off defeat, including the events surrounding his supporters’ Capitol disturbance on January 6, 2021, which have been investigated as part of the investigation.
The letter was Smith’s second notification to Trump of an ongoing federal investigation. The first, which occurred in June, involved an investigation into Trump’s alleged obstruction of efforts to retrieve national defense documents after he left office.
After this letter became public, Trump was charged with 37 criminal counts involving seven discrete violations of federal law.
Trump Says He Received a ‘Deranged’ Letter
Trump revealed receiving the letter in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, in which he referred to Smith as “deranged.” He wrote that he received the letter on Sunday and was given four days to appear before a grand jury, an invitation that he will likely decline.
Smith’s administration declined to comment. White House officials also declined to comment, citing President Biden’s decision to maintain the independence of Justice Department investigations. President Biden could face Trump again in 2024.
The former president spent weeks following the 2020 presidential election publicly claiming victory and seeking for ways to remain in office, at one point contemplating seizing voting machines.
At the conclusion of a rally near the White House, he exhorted the crowd to march to the Capitol as Joseph R. Biden’s election victory was being certified. The throng attacked the building, with some shouting “Hang Mike Pence!” and others seeking Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In Washington, federal grand juries have heard evidence pertaining to the criminal investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn his election loss. This suggests that any accusations would be prosecuted in the nation’s capital, where the Justice Department has secured hundreds of guilty pleas and convictions in connection with the attack on the Capitol.
A target letter is an official correspondence from the Department of Justice informing a person that he is the subject of an ongoing investigation. What does this entail?
Republicans in Congress defended Mr. Trump, contending that he was unfairly targeted by the Biden administration. Other candidates for the party’s nomination for president in 2024 defended him in notably subdued ways.
Smith is a tenacious former prosecutor with experience pursuing high-stakes cases against US and foreign politicians. He was appointed in November to investigate Trump. Find out here more about him.
The investigation that began on January 6 is one of a number of state and federal investigations involving Trump.
Source: The New York Times
