Former President Donald Trump is likely to face federal charges in regard to special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into his handling of classified documents, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
The outlet said that Smith has “all but obtained” the testimony and evidence he planned to collect in his investigation.
“Some of Trump’s close associates are bracing for his indictment and anticipate being able to fundraise off a prosecution, people in the former president’s circle said, as clashes within the Trump legal team have led to the departure of a key lawyer,” the WSJ noted further.
Over the past few weeks, prosecutors under Smith’s jurisdiction have conducted interviews with almost every individual employed at Trump’s Florida residence, ranging from high-level political aides to maintenance staff and maids, as per sources familiar with the matter, the outlet reported.
Witnesses have been extensively questioned, with some undergoing multiple rounds of testimony. The inquiries have focused on specific aspects crucial for Smith’s team to establish potential criminal charges, particularly probing into Trump’s intentions. Additionally, the questioning has aimed to undermine any potential defenses that Trump might raise during the proceedings, the WSJ report said.
“The special counsel team conducted a flurry of grand jury interviews in recent weeks that appeared to tie up loose ends, the people said,” the outlet added.
The Wall Street Journal has not been able to ascertain whether Smith has reached a decision regarding potential charges against Trump or if he has presented a recommendation to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who holds the authority to make the final determination on such charges. A spokesperson for Smith declined to provide any comment on the matter. A request for comment from a Trump spokesperson went unanswered; he has previously characterized the investigation as a politically motivated witch hunt.
Smith’s investigative team has been actively investigating potential instances of obstruction of the criminal inquiry. Sources have revealed that the team has acquired evidence indicating that Trump retained sensitive documents despite being requested to surrender them.
Furthermore, last week, the National Archives sent a letter stating its intention to provide Smith’s team with records of communications between then-President Trump and certain advisors pertaining to the declassification of documents.
The material could be instrumental in countering any defense claims that Trump believed verbal communication was sufficient for declassification. The initial report of the National Archives’ transfer was first made by CNN.
“Smith’s team is still pursuing a separate inquiry into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss,” the WSJ said, adding: “A separate special counsel has also been investigating how and why classified documents ended up at Biden’s home and office, after he left the vice presidency in 2017.”
Trump already faces 34 criminal counts in a hush-money case filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
