WASHINGTON: Former US President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday that he has received a letter from prosecutors indicating that he is likely to face criminal indictment in connection with the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating that the letter came from “deranged” prosecutor Jack Smith of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Joe Biden’s administration.
According to Trump, the letter classified him as a target of the January 6 Grand Jury investigation and provided him with a short four-day notice to appear before the grand jury. Trump interpreted this as a sign of an imminent arrest and indictment. He denounced the ongoing investigation as a political weaponization of law enforcement, accusing it of being driven by motives of election interference.
Charges Against Trump
Trump, who is considered a frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is already facing charges related to mishandling top-secret government documents after his presidency. The indictment alleges that he kept classified records from the Pentagon, CIA, and National Security Agency unsecured at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Meanwhile, special counsel Jack Smith has been conducting multiple investigations into Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 attack on the Capitol by his supporters. Prosecutors in Georgia are also examining whether Trump illegally attempted to reverse the election outcome in the state.
In his post on Truth Social, Trump argued that he has the right to protest what he believes was a rigged and stolen election. He claimed to be targeted because of the upcoming election, stating that the Justice Department has effectively issued a third indictment and arrest against his number one political opponent, referring to Biden.
It is important to note that receiving a target letter does not guarantee that charges will be filed. Trump did not specify the potential charges against him in his post.
