BREAKING Feds inform Trump he is target in Mar-a-Lago document case

[kpete]

Last edited Wed Jun 7, 2023, 05:37 PM - Edit history (7)

Trump’s lawyers told he is target in Mar-a-Lago documents investigation
Move dramatically raises stakes for former president as investigation appears to near its conclusion

Federal prosecutors formally informed Donald Trump’s lawyers last week that the former US president is a target of the criminal investigation examining his retention of national security materials at his Mar-a-Lago resort and obstruction of justice, according to two people briefed on the matter.

The move dramatically raises the stakes for Trump as the investigation appears to near its conclusion after taking evidence before a grand jury in Washington and a previously unknown grand jury in Florida that was impaneled last month.

Trump’s lawyers were notified before they met on Monday with the special counsel Jack Smith leading the Mar-a-Lago documents case and the senior career official in the deputy attorney general’s office and made the case that prosecutors should not indict the former president in the matter.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/07/trump-mar-a-lago-classified-documents-investigation

NEW: Prosecutors are ready to ask for grand jurors to vote on a Trump indictment as early as tomorrow, on charges of obstruction of justice and Espionage Act violations.

Link to tweet

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The Independent has learned that prosecutors are prepared to ask grand jurors to vote on charges as early as Thursday
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-indictment-espionage-prosecution-charges-b2353397.html

Federal prosecutors have notified Donald Trump that he is a criminal target and likely to be indicted imminently in a probe into alleged classified documents – even as the Justice Department declined to delay charges to give time to investigate allegations of witness tampering submitted by the former president’s legal team, according to multiple people on Wednesday familiar with the case.
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/all-things-trump/feds-inform-trump-he-target-likely-be-indicted-doj-rebuffs?utm_source=mux&utm_medium=social

Link to tweet

?s=20

Link to tweet

?s=20

Link to tweet

?s=20

Updated to add:
J. Solomon is a questionable source
so, not totally convinced
just want to be up front with DU
kp

[Kingofalldems]

1. Lock his ass up.

[jimfields33]

41. I wonder when the court case with jury will be.

Locked up by 2024-25?

[Kingofalldems]

45. What's your point?

He ain't gonna be president if that is what you are talking about.

[jimfields33]

91. Interesting. I'm just saying the trial is not tomorrow.

What’s your point?

[Kingofalldems]

46. Also looks like Mark Meadows took a plea deal.

Open and shut case with many witnesses.

Bad day to be in the MAGAt Cult.

[Cha]

63. Yes, I was going to Add this RE: Meadows..

Link to tweet

Wow.. Meadows Better Watch his Back.

[Kingofalldems]

76. Absolutely.

[Cha]

79. They must have some Super Goods

on Meadows as well.

He should probably watch his back bc he didn't want to fall on his sword for trump dumpster Fire.

[Kingofalldems]

80. Waiting for Trump to trash him in all caps.

[Cha]

81. Oh yeah.. Delish! lol

[wnylib]

89. I suspected that about Meadows way back

when he stopped cooperating after he turned over data to DOJ.

I thought at the time that he might have been threatened into silence by Trump, which still might be true. But when there were still no consequences to him months later for his refusal to cooperate, I began to think that he had made a deal with DOJ. Could be something like his aide, Cassidy Hutchinson, who was provided with a Trump appointed lawyer and received intimidation threats about trying to tell the truth. Change lawyers and then tell all.

[PCIntern]

2. Honored to be the first "rec"!!

K and big R!!!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. This makes me smile

[Meadowoak]

4. Maybe he'll flee to Moscow.

[Ray Bruns]

28. If only.

[ShazzieB]

61. Why?

The DOJ is finally about to lower the boom on him. The last thing we should want is for him to escape. Personally, I hope he has to surrender his passport before that happens.

Stay here, Donnie! Please! I beg you!

[EndlessWire]

69. I disagree.

I want him to run away as fast as he can. He can fuel up his plane, but I think he will escape by yacht. I'll personally help him pack. Get him out of my country.

We will save so much in time, money, and effort. Try him and sentence him in absentia. We won't be forced to listen to his squeals of anguish, nor endure the twenty years of news bytes until we want to throw up. Let him go for the good of the country. Can't blame us if he absconds.

Flee, Donald! Flee now, while you can!

[ShazzieB]

74. We will have to agree to disagree!

I want him sitting in a courtroom, on trial, and facing punishment, not basking on a beach in Saudi Arabia. I would be deeply disappointed to see him fly free just when he's finally on the verge of having his ass nailed to the wall.

Yes, it'll cost money, time, and effort, but untold amounts of money, time, and effort have already been put into investigating him. I don't want all of that to be for nothing.

[EndlessWire]

77. There's no problem here.

I'd like him sent to a Supermax...

[Meadowoak]

82. I'd rather see him pushed out a window in Moscow

Here he will go through years of delays, appeals, costing us 10s of Millions of dollars, all the while, his MAGA base will rally around their king only to end up with a hung jury.

[Smackdown2019]

98. How is this breaking?

We been hearing about this months...

Everyone knows he is under investigation....

[RocRizzo55]

43. Or Saudi Arabia

[Meadowoak]

60. So long as he stays there.

[ShazzieB]

65. No!

Why are people rooting for him to escape now that he's finally about to be indicted? That's the last thing I'd want to see happen right now!

They need to seize his passport, and he needs to stay HERE and take his medicine!

[grantcart]

67. No it would be Abu Dhabi

[IronLionZion]

68. and then be conscripted immediately

[WinstonSmith4740]

75. Nah...Putin's done with him.

Actually, I think he was done with him a while back. I mean, he was in office for 4 years, never locked up a journalist or political opponent or had one killed. Looking the other way when the Saudi's did it doesn't count. He DID loot our treasury, so there's that, but he obviously never had the stomach for the big stuff. I'm sure he'll try it, but I'll bet Putin considers him useless. He's not even a useful idiot anymore.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Sounds good. We are ready for this development. TFG? Not so much. nt

[AllaN01Bear]

6. yesss.

[cilla4progress]

7. Please goddess

Let this be happening.

[senseandsensibility]

8. Will CNN/MSNBC get off their smoke/Pence coverage?

Might want to talk about this at least for a couple of minutes.

[SergeStorms]

64. They say the smoke will clear out by Sunday.

Mike Pence? Now that's a different story. If he had at least two functioning brain cells he'd know he doesn't stand a chance of getting the nomination, but......

[malaise]

9. Start the birthday greetings right fucking now for a week from today

[RAB910]

10. The Tweet traces back to a notorious right-wing misinformation site- Justthenews

[kpete]

13. true

???

[GregariousGroundhog]

36. I'd be more interested in this if it came from a more reputable source

I never recall hearing of Just the News before now. From what I can gather from media reliability sites, they lean somewhat right and have mixed reliability.

Not quite a notorious right wing misinformation source, but not a source I would hang my hat on either.

[RAB910]

102. This site promoted the fake news story about NYC kicking out veterans to house migrants

once you are caught in such a gross lie, they end up in my anti-American right-wing lie machine bin

[Aristus]

11. I wonder if the Feds are giving Trump "time to depart".

In Ancient Rome, if a prominent citizen was under suspicion for crimes against the state, and was facing imminent arrest, he would often be given "time to depart", enough time to move his family, his possessions, and the bulk of his fortune out of the city (sometimes a mandated minimum one hundred miles away).

Popular landing spots for such men included Athens, Corinth, Antioch, and Alexandria.

I guess it's Moscow for Trump...

[SouthernDem4ever]

35. Or North Korea

he can build a big hotel there.

[gordianot]

44. North Korea has a huge empty Hotel just waiting for someone like Donald.

He would not even have to build it.

[FakeNoose]

49. He can fall on his sword - I'd be OK with that

[Tommy Carcetti]

12. From a non-John Solomon source:

Link to tweet

[senseandsensibility]

38. Thanks for this

[lpbk2713]

14. Did they revoke his passport? Confiscate his jet?

They should have done that long ago. He's a flight risk.

[gordianot]

47. The Secret Service would be on any flight in th United States or International flight.

It would not be easy for Yrump to escape. I do wonder if some of his Mar-Logo problems start with the Secret Service.

[DestinyIsles]

16. Be careful of the source

Justthenews is a right wing, will wait until official news outlets confirm.

[Generic Brad]

94. Exactly

This DOJ does not leak. The source of this news has to be Trumpworld and I don't believe a word they say.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. the rump is on record with witness tampering tweets and such. . . nt

[vlyons]

18. "imminently" - how long will that be?

We've waited long enough

[GreenWave]

40. careful that meanie will be after you.

But I agree wholeheartedly with you.

Common people have already been arrested and sentenced.

[intrepidity]

19. Not liking the "likely" word

Sounds mushy.

[llmart]

20. Yee haw!

I'm doing my happy dance!!

This is making me giddy. Get the popcorn ready.

[republianmushroom]

21. 28 months and counting

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. Bogus number and you know it. . . . nt

[ProfessorGAC]

83. Yeah, That's Getting Old

It's not as clever as those that keep beating that drum think it is.

[MagickMuffin]

22. John Solomon huh, Reich wing trumphumper

Not so sure we should believe him.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Solomon_(political_commentator)

[gab13by13]

72. John Solomon, who used to be a big shot for The Hill

a news source that gets quoted here a lot.

[Beachnutt]

23. Key word "Likely"

I thought this was already known ?
When ?
Was this a warning for him to be ready ?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

26. "Likely" is the official word to protect "innocent until proven" principle

It's why people in cases are "persons of interest" and not often "suspects".

[TeamProg]

24. The Toddler In Chief has been handled with KID GLOVES through most of these investigations!

LOCK HIM UP, ALREADY !!!

[RussBLib]

27. ..and he still whines about mistreatment

He has gotten more deference than any criminal I can think of.

[C_U_L8R]

29. Explains the lawyer stinkface.

They strutted into the DOJ thinking they’d dictate terms. And left holding their proverbial dicks.

[lamp_shade]

30. Trump just posted this at 3:26 PM

"No one has told me I’m being indicted, and I shouldn’t be because I’ve done NOTHING wrong, but I have assumed for years that I am a Target of the WEAPONIZED DOJ & FBI, starting with the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX, the “No Collusion” Mueller Report, Impeachment HOAX #1, Impeachment HOAX #2, the PERFECT Ukraine phone call, and various other SCAMS & WITCH HUNTS. A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE & ELECTION INTERFERENCE AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE. REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS MUST MAKE THIS THEIR # 1 ISSUE!!!"

[C_U_L8R]

33. I feel for the ketchup bottle

That’s about to be smashed against the wall in a trumpian tantrum.

[Spazito]

37. Someone is crapping his drawers...

gives credence to the info in the OP, imo.

[llmart]

42. Same old talking points. Everything's a HOAX.

It's never pretty when a supreme narcissist gets what's coming to him.

[allegorical oracle]

31. Listening to Katy Tur the past hour and no mention of it. Maybe they're verifying. nt

[captain queeg]

32. Flight risk. Lock him up...now!

[getagrip_already]

34. This isn't from doj.....

So it would have to be from tfg or his lawyers.

Not believing it until the letter is released.

[uponit7771]

51. +1

[Danascot]

39. If their stategy is to get him to stroke out

they're doing a great job of it. He's gonna blow!

[Chainfire]

48. Canada is not the only source of smoke in D.C. for the last week or so.

I just want to see some flames on the news.

[JHB]

50. Warm up, Flo, looks like it'll be dancing time soon

[Shrek]

52. "Karl Rove Indicted on Charges of Perjury, Lying to Investigators"

Brings back memories.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2282488

[FSogol]

53. If true wouldn't there be a Truth Social tantrum?

Well, right on cue:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217978714

[Justice matters.]

54. Maybe coward hair furhair is too scared of committing another crime...

"Anything you say could be held against you..." scared

[honest.abe]

55. OMG Espionage !!

[dalton99a]

56. Kick

[Jrose]

57. Section 793:

'The Independent':
prosecutors are ready to ask grand jurors to approve an indictment against Mr Trump for violating a portion of the US criminal code known as Section 793, which prohibits “gathering, transmitting or losing” any “information respecting the national defence”.

[MayReasonRule]

58. May Reason Rule In This Case And In All Cases Hereafter!

[twodogsbarking]

59. It was the biggest celebration in history. No one had ever seen such a celebration.

It spread across the planet faster than anything anyone has ever seen. Billions of people jumping up and down (you don't actually jump down) and cheering.

[honest.abe]

62. Perhaps a new national holiday.

Trump Espionage Indictment Day!!

[wnylib]

86. We could burn him in effigy

like the Brits do on Guy Fawkes Day.

[ShazzieB]

66. It's going to happen, folks! 🥳😀🥳😊🥳😄🥳😁🥳

It's getting ready to happen, FOR REAL!

And he had better not escape to Russia or Saudi Arabia or anywhere else as some are suggesting. It's time for the Orange One to pay the piper!!!!!!!!!

[EndlessWire]

73. I wanna ask

Is it better for him to get sentenced to an ankle bracelet in MAL, or to have to flee Interpol or deal with a third World Country?

I am going to be awfully disappointed if he is sentenced to MAL. He'll probably be allowed to play golf, too.

[ShazzieB]

78. I just want to see him put on trial and forced to answer for his crimes.

I'm comfortable leaving the sentencing to the justice system. Whatever sentence may be pronounced on him will be accompanied by public disgrace. If he's convicted of anything, every front page of every newspaper will be about his downfall (not to mention all the online news sources, TV, etc. He'll be labeled as a criminal and a loser everywhere he turns, and that will be crushing for a malignant narcissist like him.

I'll let the DOJ worry about the rest of it.

[Botany]

70. Obstruction of Justice and Espionage

And didn't a room open up @ the Super Max in Colorado?

Take his passport and put an ankle monitor on him
ASAP.

[IronLionZion]

71. I hope so

I'll believe it when it happens.

[Kablooie]

84. Can Trump run his campaign while living in Russia?

With all the video conferencing available he probably can.

[moniss]

85. One of the things that

may convince former officials to take a plea and testify is that the chain of custody with respect to classified documents also carries responsibilities regarding the handling of those documents. In other words if you are in the official chain of receiving and forwarding those documents you can't just toss them around for anybody to pick up etc. The WH Chief of Staff would be the ultimate administrative person of responsibility to ensure proper handling up and down the chain.

Remember when Omarosa and others began talking about the WH destroying records despite being instructed from Mueller to preserve all records? If she knew you can bet others did and Mueller references this obstruction in his report. I bring that up in the context of that conduct likely continuing throughout and afterwards. Meadows and others who knew and participated (remember C. Hutchinson's testimony to the J6 committee) could be in deep trouble for years worth of violations just on that point alone. An underling like Meadows would be in even deeper trouble due to his position of authority/responsibility and also because he would have been instructed very well by the relevant departments about the proper handling/return/declassification of classified documents and so if he tries to claim that he was "ordered" to destroy some classified documents he would have no legal basis for that as a defense.

The Nixon case proved that despite his claims that "if the President does it then it's legal" the court wasn't going along with that and therefore receiving an order from the President that you know to be unlawful will carry legal liability for a violation of that law and "he told me to" doesn't erase that liability.

[Cheezoholic]

87. He's not running anywhere, no way in hell

That's not his MO and that would completely sink his grift. As much the deplorable's fill his collection plate just for Trump Bucks or whatever, this is going to be the greatest grift of all time when he starts begging for cash to never pay lawyers to keep him out of jail. Trashy trailers and mini monster trucks will be mortgaged on a record scale. No credit check payday loan stores will have lines around the block. Hell, if I had a million bucks I'd gladly give these idiots a second mortgage at the highest interest rate possible lol.

Plus his remora's would probably hunt him down and hang him if he ran.

[Beastly Boy]

88. Thanks, Garland!

[Jrose]

90. Up to 33 years!

"The classified documents case is the most concerning because it carries with it sentencing for having violated laws like the Espionage Act and possible obstruction of justice.
"If the former president is found guilty of these crimes, which it seems likely at this rate, then the maximum sentence would be 33 years—to say nothing of the other criminal investigations into Trump simultaneously occurring."

Brendan Weichart
'1945'

[tclambert]

92. Trump's most successful defense has been to keep committing more crimes

so the investigations can't ever find an endpoint. Everything they investigate reveals more and more crimes that they have to keep investigating. It's turtles all the way down.

[Blue Owl]

93. A big, fat, squishy target

[brooklynite]

95. Update: Feinberg reports Meadows will plead guilty.

Link to tweet

[Takket]

99. this is why this stuff takes years to do........

i freaking hate every minute of this tortuous process, but DOJ started at the bottom and worked their way all the way to the top. If they have gotton Meadows to plead guilty and take an immunity deal it is all over for drumpf

[Stuart G]

96. Well, Well, Well, The orange clown is NOT GOING TO..."GET AWAY WITH IT" AFTER ALL..

THIS IS AN "OUTSTANDING SHOW"...OR MOVIE IF YOU LIKE.......

SECOND ACT COMING AFTER INDICTMENT SOON.. 1...DOES THE . ."CLOWN FLEE TO A SAFE HAVEN"?

....................................................................... 2. .OR DOES HE CLAIM...."MENTAL ILLNESS AS EXCUSE?

..................................................................3...OR DOES HE CLAIM HE IS ."INNOCENT" IT IS A WITCH HUNT"..like he's been doing?

which will it be.....NUMBER 1, ...NUMBER 2, ....OR ...NUMBER 3...? or ...UNKNOWN???? NUMBER 4.................

which will it be?. And we will all see the next act in the show.. .

[FirstLight]

97. PLEASE televise that perp-walk!!!!

...I can't wait!!!

[moniss]

100. An important aspect of being

notified that he is a target is that any contact/actions/statements of any kind with/toward any witnesses either directly or indirectly through others is grounds for obstruction charges. His lawyers are going to be begging him to STFU and if his kids have any decent lawyers they will be telling the kids the same thing. Tampering/intimidation will put some folks in way deeper than they already are. The crap he got away with during Mueller of telling witnesses being called to "stay strong" etc. is not going to fly here. It shouldn't have then either.

[Mike Nelson]

101. Hmm...

... most assuredly, this report is NOT news. We've always known the "Mar-a-Lago documents" target. Maybe this story means Crooked Donald has received a formal letter? Or, maybe he thought Mike Pence might lead a news cycle?

[Martin68]

103. Lock'im up!