Donald Trump has endangered the “ national security of the United States, in particular by keeping American nuclear secrets after his departure from the White House, according to a historic indictment made public this Friday, June 9, 2023.
The Republican billionaire, who is seeking a second term in 2024, is the subject of 37 charges, including ” unlawful retention of national security information ” And “ obstruction of justice “, according to this document. He is also accused of perjury and having agreed with his personal assistant Walt Nauta – also prosecuted – to hide documents requested by the federal police, the FBI.
Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he had been indicted by federal justice for his handling of the White House archives, a first for a former president, and that he was summoned Tuesday, June 13 before a court in Miami. “ I am innocent “, he had claimed, presenting himself as the victim of a plot orchestrated by his Democratic opponents. Democratic President Joe Biden, also in the running for the 2024 election, took care to ensure this Friday that he would not be in contact with Justice Minister Merrick Garland in this very sensitive file.
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Documents “ on nuclear programs » found
In the United States, a law obliges presidents to transmit all their emails, letters and other working documents to the national archives. Another, on espionage, prohibits keeping state secrets in unauthorized and unsecured places. FBI agents had carried out a spectacular search on August 8 at his residence in Mar-a-Lago and had seized around thirty other boxes, containing 11,000 documents.
According to the indictment, classified documents were found ” in a ballroom “, but also ” in a bathroom, in the shower », or in « a desk ” Or ” room “. They “ included information on the defense capabilities of the United States and foreign countries », « on nuclear programs “Americans and” on potential vulnerabilities in the event of an attack on the United States and its allies “.
Their potential dissemination would have endangered the national security of the United States, its international relations added Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, appointed last November to oversee the investigation independently.
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(With AFP)