Donald Trump says he has been charged with misusing classified documents
Utah Senator Mike Lee has suggested on social media that the charges against Trump are politically motivated.
FILE – Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event April 27, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Trump’s defiant appearance at CNN City Hall could ultimately damage his standing with key constituencies in next fall’s general election. But he also proved his exceptional grip on the voters who will decide the upcoming Republican nomination campaign in 2024. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Miami, FL • Donald Trump said Tuesday he was charged with misusing confidential documents at his Florida estate, sparking a federal prosecution that is arguably the most dangerous of several legal threats against the former president who is trying to retake the White House.
The Justice Department did not immediately publicly confirm the charges.
Trump is currently in Bedminster, New Jersey. A person familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to discuss it publicly, said Trump’s lawyers were contacted by prosecutors just before he announced on his Truth Social platform that he had been charged.
Trump said he was due to appear in court in Miami on Tuesday afternoon.
Some Republicans in Utah reacted to the news as reports of Trump’s impeachment emerged Thursday night.
Utah Sen. Mike Lee wrote on his personal Twitter account @BasedMikeLee: “Incumbent President Impeached Leading Challenger. Completely normal.”
He added a short video of women in tropical attire dancing and holding giant bananas, suggesting the government is acting like a banana republic. Last year, Lee slammed the Justice Department when the FBI conducted a search of classified documents at Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago.
Former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes, one of Donald Trump’s staunchest supporters, expressed his dismay at the indictment of the former president.
“It’s sad and pathetic,” Hughes said in a text message to The Tribune. Hughes is a candidate to succeed Rep. Chris Stewart in the upcoming special election.
Senator Mitt Romney’s office said it was withholding comment until the indictment against Trump was released. Romney has been one of Trump’s biggest critics, saying Trump is unfit to be president.
Former Republican Rep. Becky Edwards, who is also running for Congress in November’s special election, said in a statement to The Tribune that legal recourse must be allowed.
“I deeply respect the law of the country and firmly believe it applies to all Americans. When a law is broken, due process must be ensured and I support the courts to that end,” Edwards said in a statement.
