Donald Trump Donald Trump has been accused of keeping classified documents and government records at his Florida home even after leaving the White House after losing the presidential election in 2021. He has been accused of wrongly storing hundreds of such classified documents, which include details of US nuclear secrets and military plans. It is being said that Trump also tried to obstruct the legal proceedings.
According to the indictment, Trump is facing a total of 37 criminal counts, including 31 counts of knowingly withholding national security information. Six photos released as part of the indictment against Trump, who is preparing for re-election in 2024, show cardboard boxes of documents kept in the rooms of his luxurious Mar-a-Lago estate. These pictures were released by BBC.
It was told in the BBC report that Trump kept classified documents related to national security in the shower-room. Trump has also been accused of trying to obstruct the investigation related to the documents. Trump, on the other hand, has denied any wrongdoing, and is now expected to appear at the Miami Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon.
Trump’s personal aide also accused
A personal aide to Donald Trump has been indicted along with the former president for alleged mishandling of classified documents. The aide, Navy officer Walt Nauta, worked first at the White House and later at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Nauta is now facing charges of conspiracy and making false statements.
5 major allegations against Trump in the indictment
1. US Nuclear Secrets files were kept in the shower: According to the indictment, Trump had stored confidential documents in the bathroom and shower of his Florida club. CNN reported that the boxes Trump kept at Mar-a-Lago included information on defense and weapons capabilities, US nuclear programs and potential vulnerabilities to military attack by the US and its allies. While some of the documents were classified at the highest level, some were so sensitive that they required special handling, the indictment said.
2. Sharing of classified documents: According to the indictment, Donald Trump is also accused of showing classified documents to others on two occasions. According to a CNN report, at a 2021 meeting in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump outlined “a plan of attack” and described it as being drawn up by the Department of Defense. Also showed a classified map related to the campaign.
3. Hoarding of classified documents: Some of the files were allegedly collected on the stage in the ballroom, where events and gatherings took place. Some others were housed in a bathroom and a shower, an office space and their bedroom. Other classified documents were found scattered out of boxes on the floor of the storage room.
4. Movement of documents: Prosecutors allege that initially, boxes containing classified documents were kept in a ballroom at Mar-a-Lago. In 2021, Nauta transported some of them to a business center in the estate. The indictment alleges that Trump was directly tampering with some documents. According to the indictment, two people who worked for Trump discussed over text messages whether they could transfer a box containing classified documents.
5. Attempt to hide, destroy documents: In addition, the indictment alleges that Trump directed Nauta to transfer documents to be hidden from Trump’s lawyers and FBI agents. Trump also suggested to his lawyer to “hide or destroy the documents” sought by the subpoena. Nauta played a key role in transferring and concealing the boxes that contained classified information. Before and after the May 1 subpoena, Trump was ordered to turn over government documents kept at his Florida estate.
