What Is Mar-a-Lago Classified Documents Case In Which Trump Has Been Indicted: Explained In 5 Points

Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted in Mar-a-Lago classified documents case on seven charges, including under Espionage Act. Here's all about it.

Legal troubles continue to mount for former US President Donald Trump as now he has been indicted in Mar-a-Lago classified documents case on seven charges, including under Espionage Act, he informed on his social media platform Truth Social. “The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax,” Trump wrote in the social media post that criticising President Joe Biden. 

According to New York Post, Trump’s attorney, Jim Trusty, confirmed to CNN that his client is facing seven charges. 

"It does have some language in it that suggests what the seven charges would be. Not 100% clear that all of those are separate charges, but they basically break out from an Espionage Act charge," Trusty said in the interview, as quoted by the New York Post. 

The case marks the first time the justice department has charged Trump adding to his legal difficulties as he seeks to return to the presidency.  

Here we explain what the Mar-a-Lago case is and why is it important. 

 

1. The Mar-a-Lago Classified Documents Case 

Mar-a-Loga is Donald Trump’s residential place in Florida where he went after he left the White House. He reportedly took some classified documents with him which the federal law requires outgoing presidents to be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration (Nara), the Guardian reported. 

In May 2021, Nara discovered it was missing certain records during Trump’s tenure as president and requested the Republican leader to return them. Trump’s attorneys turned over 15 boxes of records that included 184 documents that were said to be classified, according to the Guardian. Later, Nara referred the matter to the justice department, and the FBI began probing the case in February 2022. 

According to the Guardian's report, last year in June, Trump’s lawyers turned over 38 additional documents with classified markings. Late in August 2022, the FBI raided the Mar-a-Lago residence of Trump and found over 100 documents with classified markings. Following this, the justice department began investigating whether classified material was mishandled. 

 

2. What Is Trump Charged With? 

The former US President is now charged with willful retention of national security material, obstruction and conspiracy, a source told the Guardian. Also, this is the first time that Trump has faced federal criminal charges. The other criminal matters pending against Trump are in state courts. 

  

3. Evidence Against Trump In Classified Documents Case 

According to a report by CNN, the prosecutors obtained a 2021 recording of Trump in which he discusses a classified document in his possession dealing with a military confrontation with Iran. The report added that, on the recording, Trump reportedly acknowledged that the document is classified.  

 

4. Trump’s Response 

Donald Trump has denounced the investigation as politically motivated and downplayed the significance of handling the documents. He has said that he had the right to take some documents from office and did nothing different than Joe Biden and Mike Pence, both of whom had classified documents in their possession after leaving office, as reported by The Guardian. 

 

5. Does Indictment Hamper Trump’s Re-election Bid? 

No. Neither the indictment nor a conviction would prevent Trump from running for the US presidency in 2024, the Guardian stated. 

The report further stated that the New York case showed that criminal charges have historically been a boon to his fundraising. The campaign ad announced that it raised over $4 million in the 24 hours after that indictment became public.