Donald Trump was indicted by the Justice Department on Friday on 37 criminal charges related to the former president’s mishandling of classified documents that he allegedly improperly took from the White House after leaving office in 2021.
The indictment accuses Trump of obstructing the FBI investigation into the missing materials by instructing aides to conceal the documents and even going so far as to suggest “that his attorney hide or destroy documents called for by the grand jury subpoena.” The court filing also details instances in which Trump acknowledged the materials contained sensitive information but failed to take the necessary steps to secure the documents.
DONALD TRUMP INDICTED: CHARGES UNSEALED IN CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE AGAINST EX-PRESIDENT
Among the charges include 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, one count of withholding a document or record, one count of corruptly concealing a document or record, one count of concealing documents in a federal investigation, one count of scheme to conceal, and one count of making false statements and representations.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most shocking revelations included in the 49-page indictment:
Documents contained sensitive national security information
Trump retained hundreds of sensitive documents containing national security information that was obtained by multiple executive branch departments and federal agencies, the indictment shows. Among these include the CIA, the Defense Department, the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, the Department of Energy, and the Department of State and Bureau of Intelligence and Research.
Many of the documents taken by Trump when he left the White House included information related to the “defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries” that could put the country at risk if handled improperly, according to the indictment. The materials also contained information on the U.S. nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. and its allies in military attacks, and plans for possible retaliation against foreign attacks.
“The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods,” the indictment states.
Trump admitted to staffer he did not declassify materials
On at least two occasions in 2021, Trump showed classified documents to individuals without the proper security clearance while openly admitting they contained sensitive materials.
In one instance in July 2021, during an interview with a writer, publisher, and two members of his staff, Trump revealed a “plan of attack” that he said was prepared by the Department of Defense while he was in office. Trump told the group the information was “highly classified” and that “as president, I could have declassified it,” but “now I can’t.”
“Yeah,” a staffer responded with a laugh, according to the transcript. “Now we have a problem.”
The transcript of the conversation contradicts previous arguments by Trump that he had declassified all the documents before bringing them to Mar-a-Lago, which could be used against the former president as evidence he willfully retained sensitive information.
Trump acknowledged others could not see the documents while showing them off
In the second instance, in the fall of 2021, Trump showed a representative of his political action committee a classified map related to a military operation despite the individual not having the proper security clearance, according to the indictment.
During that conversation, Trump lamented to the individual that a military operation in “Country B” was not going well. Trump then pulled out the map while warning the individual “to not get too close” after acknowledging he “should not be showing the map,” the filing states.
Staffers instructed to move documents repeatedly — including in a bathroom
The classified documents were moved and relocated several times by staffers who did not have the security clearances required to handle such information, according to the indictment.
From January 2021 to March 2021, boxes were stored in the White and Gold Ballroom at the Mar-a-Lago resort, where several events and gatherings were held during that time. Much of the boxes were stored on the stage before they were moved to the Mar-a-Lago business center, the indictment states.
In April 2021, a staffer requested the boxes be removed from the business center to make room for an office space. After that, the boxes were relocated to a bathroom and shower in the Mar-a-Lago Lake Room.
One month later, Trump instructed staff members to move the boxes to a storage room located on the ground floor of Mar-a-Lago. That room could be reached by several entrances, including a doorway connected to the pool patio that was frequently left open.
Documents were found strewn across the floor in storage room
At one point in December 2021, one of Trump’s staff members found several of the documents strewn across the floor in the frequently accessible storage room, including some that were marked “SECRET.”
The document in question likely contained information related to relationships with the Five Eyes intelligence alliance consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S., according to the indictment. The staffer informed another Trump employee of the spill, although it remains unclear how Trump reacted to the incident.
Trump suggested waving off subpoena for classified documents
After several attempts from the National Archives to retrieve classified documents from the former president, a grand jury issued a subpoena in May 2022 for all materials containing classified markings.
However, Trump sought to brush off the request, according to the indictment — going so far as to suggest his attorney not respond.
“I don’t want anybody looking through my boxes,” Trump said. “I really don’t, I don’t want you looking through my boxes.”
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“What happens if we just don’t respond at all or don’t play ball with them?” Trump said in another conversation.
“Well, look, isn’t it better if there are no documents?” he said.