Donald Trump indictment updates — Ex-president to appear in court Tuesday in latest hurdle in 2024 run against DeSantis | The Sun
FORMER president Donald Trump has announced that he's been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents.
Trump allegedly brought the documents to his home in Florida without proper authorization – and will face the charges at a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, according to his latest post on Truth Social.
"I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election," he said.
"I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!"
The indictment comes after Trump announced he's running for president again in 2024 – meaning he'll be facing off against candidate Ron DeSantis.
Follow our Donald Trump arrest live blog for the latest news and updates…
- By Carsen Holaday
Trump campaign makes statement
Trump's team has made a statement calling the indictment a "disgrace" that "must be thrown out."
"President Donald J. Trump has long been the biggest threat and the top political target for Joe Biden and the corrupt Democrat Party," the statement reads.
"As President Trump’s dominance grows, the nastier the Deep State attacks become."
- By Carsen Holaday
What to know about the classified documents
Special counsel Jack Smith was looking into whether Trump kept hundreds of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, about 70miles north of Miami, the Associated Press reported.
The former president has also been accused of obstructing the government's effort to recover the documents.
Trump allegedly took about 300 documents after vacating the White House. Roughly 100 were recovered during a raid in August.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to the US Sun's request for comment.
- By Carsen Holaday
Indictment comes after months-long probe
It's not yet clear what the immediate or long-term consequences of the indictment will be for Trump.
The indictment came after a months-long probe conducted by special counsel Jack Smith, the Associated Press reported.
- By Carsen Holaday
Trump to appear in court Tuesday
President Joe Biden's administration notified Trump's legal team, the former president said in one of several Truth Social posts about the case on Thursday.
He added that he's been summoned to appear at a federal courthouse in Miami at 3pm on Tuesday.
- By Carsen Holaday
'I'm an innocent man'
Trump insisted in the clip posted to Truth Social: "There's never been anything like what's happened, I'm an innocent man."
He went on to call for honesty and integrity before saying that the nation is going to hell.
- By Carsen Holaday
Trump posted video
After announcing the news of his indictment, the former president posted a video on Truth Social.
"Very sadly, we're a nation in decline," he started out in the clip.
"It's election interference at the highest level."
- By Matthew Aquino
What the case is on
The case is centered on sensitive documents the former president allegedly brought to his estate in Florida without proper authorization.
Trump's legal team was notified by President Joe Biden's administration, the former president said in one of several Truth Social posts about the case on Thursday.
He added that he's been summoned to appear at a federal courthouse in Miami at 3pm on Tuesday.
- By Matthew Aquino
Donald Trump’s full statement, concluded
Trump ended his statement by saying: "This is indeed a DARK DAY for the United States of America. We are a Country in serious and rapid Decline, but together we will Make America Great Again!"
The former president is set to appear in court on Tuesday.
- By Matthew Aquino
Donald Trump’s full statement, continued
The Former president continued: "I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM.
"I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election.
"I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!"
- By Matthew Aquino
Donald Trump's full statement
Donald Trump released a full statement regarding his indictment on his social media platform Truth Social.
The Former president wrote: "The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax.
"Even though Joe Biden has 1850 Boxes at the University of Delaware, additional Boxes in Chinatown, D.C., with even more Boxes at the University of Pennsylvania, and documents strewn all over his garage floor where he parks his Corvette, and which is “secured” by only a garage door that is paper thin, and open much of the time."
- By Matthew Aquino
Donald Trump announces indictment
The former president announced on his social media platform Truth Social that he has been indicted and summoned to appear in court on Tuesday.
- By Carsen Holaday
Next in-person hearing set for December 4
The next in-person hearing for Donald Trump’s criminal case is set for December 4.
This is around two months before Republicans will begin their nominating process for the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
- By Carsen Holaday
Trump speaks out after indictment
While addressing his supporters and the media from his Mar-a-Lago estate, Donald Trump said he "never thought" his arrest could happen.
"I never thought anything like this could happen in America," he said.
"The only crime that I've committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it".
- By Carsen Holaday
Trump calls hearing ‘shocking’
In a post on Truth Social, former president Donald Trump said that there is “no case” against him.
“The hearing was shocking to many in that they had no ‘surprises,’ and therefore, no case,” Trump shared.
“Virtually every legal pundit has said that there is no case here.”
He concluded: “There was nothing done illegally!”
- By Carsen Holaday
Trump supported by family at speech
Though Donald Trump's wife and daughter, Ivanka, didn't attend Trump's speech at Mar-a-Lago following his arraignment, he was still supported by many family members at the address.
Donald Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., with his fiancé Kimberly Guilfoyle, and daughter Tiffany Trump entered the Mar-a-Lago event together – and were met with loud applause from the audience.
Trump was supported by his family at the Mar-a-Lago speech with Eric Trump and his wife Lara, Victor Knavs, Donald Trump Jr and his fiancé Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos watching onCredit: AP
- By Louis Allwood
Judge is not issuing a gagging order
Judge Juan Merchan ordered both sides to calm down after prosecutors complained about Trump’s recent social media posts, including one of him holding a baseball bat against the head of the top prosecutor in the case.
The judge said he was not issuing a gagging order, as had been suggested, as Trump was a “candidate for President of the United States” and his “First Amendment rights are critically important”.
After the hearing, which lasted just under an hour, Trump took a private jet to his Florida home.
He was due to address his supporters from there late last night. Trump denies the claim by 44-year-old Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, that they had sex once in 2006.
- By Carsen Holaday
Body language expert says Trump's speech was 'automatic'
Trump's speech delivery from his Mar-a-Lago estate last night fell flat, according to internationally acclaimed body language expert Patti Wood's analysis.
"It seemed sort of automatic," she said in an exclusive conversation with The U.S. Sun.
"The pattern of the speaking was sing-songy, and it was clear he was reading the monitors," Wood said while pointing out how his head drifted to the left and right.
"To me, that makes sense that his lawyers or his advisors would say, 'You've gotta be really careful what you say now, so read the teleprompters.'
"It didn't have the energy that is typical of his speeches and rallies, or even the animation.
"It made it boring to listen to, and I could see the audience didn't seem to be as involved."
- By Carsen Holaday
Trump posted while en route to courthouse
Ahead of his arrangement, an appalled Trump posted on Truth Social about how he was on his way to Lower Manhattan to be arrested.
"Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!" the former president wrote.
His motorcade arrived at the office of Manhattan DA Bragg, part of the towering Manhattan Criminal Courts facility, just before 1.30pm Tuesday afternoon.
He gave one final wave to onlookers before being escorted inside the building, where he was officially placed in the custody of the NYPD.
- By Louis Allwood
Who is Tiffany Trump's mom Marla Maples?
Born on October 27, 1963, Marla Maples is an American socialite, actress, and media personality from Cohutta, Georgia.
She was also a beauty pageant queen and was the Miss Georgia USA runner-up in 1984.
Marla also appeared as a celebrity guest at WWF WrestleMania VII and several movies like Richie Rich: White Christmas and Loving Annabelle.
She even made a cameo appearance in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alongside her then-husband Donald Trump.
In 2016, she competed on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars and guest co-hosted The View on ABC.
Maples is now a wellness, spirituality, and motivational speaker and is often invited to various summits as a keynote speaker.
- By Carsen Holaday
Charges are a class E felony
A class E felony in New York State is the lowest felony charge available and is usually associated with serious crimes that did not warrant a higher felony charge.
"It's not just about one payment. It is 34 business records," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a press conference following Trump's arraignment.
"Uh, 34 false statements and business records. They were concealing criminal conduct."
The Manhattan DA added: "No matter who you are… We cannot and will not normalize serious criminal conduct."
- By Carsen Holaday
Charges stem from hush payments
The charges against Trump stem from a $130,000 hush-money payment that his former fixer, Michael D. Cohen, made to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 campaign to silence claims of an affair.
The case also reportedly includes claims of separate payments to a second woman, former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Trump allegedly played a role in paying $150,000 to McDougal, who claims that she began a 10-month relationship with the former president in 2006, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The former U.S. president also allegedly paid a former Trump Tower doorman $30,000 to silence his claims that Trump had a "child out of wedlock."
- By Carsen Holaday
There are 34 counts against Trump
The official charge against Donald Trump is falsifying business records.
DA Alvin Bragg clarified that there are 34 documents including false records.
He also added the case goes beyond the one $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels.
- By Louis Allwood
Marjorie Taylor Greene compares Trump to Jesus
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene talked to Brian Glenn of Right Side Broadcasting Network ahead of Donald Trump’s arraignment.
The loyal Trump supporter defended the former president and even compared him to Nelson Mandela and Jesus Christ.
Greene stated: “President Trump is joining some of the most incredible people in history being arrested today.
“Nelson Mandela was arrested, served time in prison. Jesus! Jesus was arrested and murdered by the Roman government.”
- By Carsen Holaday
Trump’s ‘key lie’
Alvin Bragg told reporters Donald Trump repeated a “key lie” for nine months – that he was paying attorney Michael Cohen for legal services.
The district attorney’s office has found evidence that these documents are false and the payments were in fact reimbursement fees as a part of a “catch and kill scheme.”
Bragg concluded that no power or money can allow you to escape the law.
- By Louis Allwood
Pictured: Yesterday's highlights as Trump appeared in court
Source: Read Full Article