On August 8 it became known that FBI agents had ransacked Trump’s home with the suspicion that there were confidential documents there that Trump took with him when he moved from the White House. In January, Trump himself delivered more than 150 confidential documents to the National Archives after a protracted conflict. The Justice Department then called for an FBI investigation. Government documents marked top secret were found during the search, which should only be accessible in designated public buildings. Trump is being investigated for possible violations of the Espionage Act. The former president denies breaking the law and claims the seized documents have been declassified.
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Trump claims he degraded the documents himself when he was still president, and therefore it is not a crime.
If Trump hair committed a crime, eventually can be convicted of espionage.
PETITION: These are parts of the search warrant, which states that Trump, named FPOTUS (former US president), was not authorized to keep secret documents in his home in Florida. Photo: MARIO TAMA / AFP – Witch hunt
Trump describes the whole affair as a witch hunt, to prevent him from running for reelection in 2024. He hasn’t confirmed his candidacy, but experts are confident he will run.
But the investigation against Trump is now testing the unity of the Republican Party:
Senator Roy Blunt is one of many Republicans who thinks so Trump should have turned over the documents a long time ago and avoided another cause.
Trump loyalists, such as Senator Lindsey Graham, however, warn that the investigation could lead to violent riots in support of Trump .
On Sunday night, Trump again lashed out at research – watch the video :
How dangerous is it?
VG asked three American professors and policy experts to consider whether the case affects Trump’s political project:
– The results so far are very serious. It was a long process to get the documents back into the national archives, Landman says.
While the content varies, parts of it could put American officials at risk if they land in the wrong hands, the expert points out.
– The actual details are not known, but there is a deep concern regarding the security level of the documents, Landman says.
PROFESSORS: Todd Landman, Todd Belt and Craig Agranoff Photo: private / private / Gisle Oddstad, VG It should have been returned
Professor Todd Belt points out that just having the documents in a private home is in itself a possible offense.
– If he had been any other citizen, we would have expected a spying charge. But the justice minister will likely refuse, because he will appear politically motivated, Belt says.
Professor Craig Agranoff says he will wait for more information before assessing the severity of the content.
– It’s still too early to tell how bad it is. What the case has already led to is strengthening the divisions that exist within the Republican Party, Agranoff says.
TRUMP IN SUPPORT: Trump supporters outside the Florida courtroom this week. Photo: CHRISTOPHER HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH / EPA Get support
– There is a wide range among Republican politicians. Some view seriousness with increasing unease. Others warn that a trial against Trump will lead to riots in the streets, Professor Todd Landman points out.
Its namesake Todd Belt believes most Republican voters support Trump on the issue and points to new opinion polls in which Trump has seen a recovery.
– Many Republicans were tired of hearing Trump’s election fraud allegations in 2020. This case puts him in a new light. He can play the role of victim and other Republican politicians can profile themselves by supporting him, Belt says.
All experts point out that the case is so politically charged that it is considered highly unlikely to lead to a conviction and imprisonment for Trump.
– It cannot be ruled out, but now we are very, very far from that, says Agranoff.
Landman warns against a period of growing political tension as long as investigations are ongoing.
– The next few months will be very divisive and that could lead to an increase in politically motivated violence, he says.
WHAT TRUMP SAID: Did Trump press Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to change the election results? Photo: CHIP SOMODEVILLA / AFP The other cases against Trump
The other legal disputes Trump is involved in take place at the federal level, at the state level and include both criminal cases and civil litigation.
In addition to the case of documents, these are the most important cases, he believes New York Times :
Elections in Georgia: When it became clear that Trump had lost the typically Republican state in 2020, he called Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and ordered him to “find 11,780” votes so the outcome could be changed. Now a so-called grand jury will decide whether Trump has committed a crime.The investigation of January 6: When the election of Joe Biden as the new president was to be announced in Congress on January 6, 2021, an angry mob of Trump supporters attacked. One hearing in progress revealed that Trump knew more than he admitted. The hearing has no judicial power, but takes place in parallel with the Justice Department investigating Trump’s role.
STORM THE CONGRESS: Trump supporters enter the Congress building on January 6 last year. Photo: Leah Millis / Reuters
The New York State Investigation: New York State Attorney General Letitia James has a civil investigation into Trump’s family business to determine whether the value of his hotels, golf courses, and other properties has been inflated to grant him favorable loans with false claims. The case may not lead to a criminal conviction, but it could carry a huge fine.Manhattan Criminal Investigation: In October, a much-discussed case about Trump’s company managers goes to court. A former CEO has admitted 15 felonies, including tax evasion, and will testify. Trump himself has not been charged here, but a related investigation into possible fraud by credit institutions is still ongoing.
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