Scandal-plagued former President Donald J. Trump may soon be facing his second round of historical criminal charges, as bombshell new reporting confirmed this morning that lawyers representing the former US president were spotted entering the United States Department of Justice for what is assumed to be a meeting between the legal representatives and DOJ investigators and prosecutors, as multiple experts and sources say charges in the infamous stolen document scandal are on the horizon.
In addition to the 2020 election and January 6th Capitol insurrection investigations, Garland-appointed DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith and his team have been investigating Donald Trump’s unlawful removal of classified government documents upon the end of his presidency and his subsequent decisions to retain, hide, and refuse to return the classified materials despite multiple legal efforts by the US federal government.
CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa reported on Twitter at 10:09 AM ET, citing sources who have confirmed that Jack Smith is expected to reach a decision regarding charges against Trump soon.
“Trump’s lawyers just spotted by @CBSNews entering the Justice Department, per @RobLegare who is on site,” Costa tweeted this morning, further noting that this development “comes as sources tell me the special counsel is moving toward a charging decision in the classified documents case.”
BREAKING: Trump’s lawyers just spotted by @CBSNews entering the Justice Department, per @RobLegare who is on site… comes as sources tell me the special counsel is moving toward a charging decision in the classified documents case
— Robert Costa (@costareports) June 5, 2023
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Costa goes on to further cite sources, adding, “Trump’s lawyers are expected to raise concerns about how prosecutors have handled atty-client questions during the grand jury but there is no sign the special counsel is going to waver from how he and his team have handled the crime-fraud exception…”
Sources tell @CBSNews that Trump’s lawyers are expected to raise concerns about how prosecutors have handled atty-client questions during the grand jury but there is no sign the special counsel is going to waver from how he and his team have handled the crime-fraud exception…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) June 5, 2023
Legal experts are already weighing in on what this development could mean.
Legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner said:
Good sign: if Jack Smith had decided against charging Trump, there would be no need for this meeting. The last federal prosecutors often do before indicting is meet with the target’s defense team & give them an opportunity to present any evidence or arguments they want to offer. https://t.co/RR1574xJyG
— Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) June 5, 2023
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti noted:
Often defense attorneys are given the opportunity to “pitch” the DOJ before a charging decision is made.
Trump’s team visiting DOJ likely means that we won’t see charges in the next few days—as their pitch is considered—but could potentially see charges in the next 5 to 15 days. https://t.co/zdEYdWM920
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) June 5, 2023
The Special Counsel’s grand jury is reportedly set to reconvene this week.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
