According to reports from NBC News, the federal grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified information is scheduled to resume proceedings in Washington, D.C., following a period of reduced court activity.
The intentions of special counsel Jack Smith regarding a potential indictment remain unclear.
However, recent information suggests that the National Archives has disclosed 16 records indicating that Trump and his top advisers were aware of the procedures involved in declassifying communication during his presidency.
Additionally, prosecutors claim to have obtained audio recordings in which Trump discusses a classified document he retained after leaving office.
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He’s always called the probe a hoax and a political witch hunt to impede his potential return to the White House.
The investigation focuses on whether Trump unlawfully retained classified material upon leaving office and whether he obstructed investigators or tampered with evidence.
In June 2022, federal agents journeyed to the residence of the former president in Florida to obtain documents from his tenure in the White House.
The legal representatives of Trump cooperated by surrendering 38 classified documents to the authorities. Additionally, they provided written certification, affirming their thorough and meticulous search in fulfilling this obligation.
In May 2021, the National Archives initially notified Trump of their request for approximately two dozen boxes of records under the Presidential Records Act.
In late 2021, they warned him that they would escalate the matter to prosecutors or Congress if he failed to surrender the documents.
In January 2022, Trump returned around 15 boxes, revealing over 700 pages of classified materials. Federal law enforcement was alerted, leading them to suspect the existence of undisclosed materials. Consequently, a criminal investigation was initiated.
In May 2022, a federal grand jury issued a subpoena for additional classified documents. Subsequently, the Department of Justice visited Mar-a-Lago, and Trump’s legal team provided a written statement asserting the return of all classified material.
Investigators interviewed Trump’s staff members throughout the summer and obtained surveillance footage through subpoenas.
On August 8, the FBI executed a search warrant at the property, recovering eleven additional sets of classified material.
