Former President Donald Trump has revealed that Jack Smith, who is investigating Trump over the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, will likely be indicting him in the near future.
In a statement released on his social media network Truth Social, Trump said that shortly after arriving home from an event, his attorneys informed him of a letter sent by Smith, who was appointed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland last November.
“Deranged Jack Smith, the prosecutor with [President] Joe Biden’s DOJ, sent a letter (again, it was Sunday night!) stating that I am a TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation, and giving me a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment,” Trump posted.
For months, Smith has been interviewing witnesses in an investigation surrounding Trump’s alleged role in what Trump’s enemies say was an attempt “to interfere with the lawful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election or the certification of the Electoral College vote.”
This is the second grand jury convened by Smith to consider charges against the former president. On June 8, Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury on dozens of felony charges stemming from alleged mishandling of classified documents. Between that probe and a separate one over Jan. 6, Smith spent more than $5 million in the first four months of the investigations.
“So now, Joe Biden’s Attorney General, Merrick Garland, who I turned down from the United States Supreme Court (in retrospect, based on his corrupt and unethical actions, a very wiser decision!), together with How Biden’s Department of Injustice, have effectively issued a third Indictment and Arrest of Joe Biden’s NUMBER ONE POLITICAL OPPONENT, who is largely dominating him in the race for the Presidency,” Trump wrote.
He added, “Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before, or even close.”
A group of former prosecutors and attorneys have just released a 264-page model prosecution memorandum (also known as a “pros memo”) assessing the changes that Smith may bring against Trump.
The authors have decades of experience as federal prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, as well as other expertise, and drew their conclusions based on recent disclosures in court filings and media reports. The group says their memo follows a common Justice Department practice, where federal prosecutors draft a pros memo to layout admissible evidence, possible charges, and legal issues. They added that the Department of Justice is “likely now, or shortly will be, internally circulating a pros memo of its own,” which will not be released to the public.
The group explains their belief that there is “a powerful case to be made against Trump and others” and conclude “charges are likely merited under DOJ standards and precedents.”
Trump is still facing potential criminal charges from prosecutors in Georgia in a related case.
This spring, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis ordered law enforcement personnel on to ramp up security, addressing “the need for heightened security and preparedness in coming months due to this pending announcement,” which is widely expected to be an indictment of Trump tied to the County’s own investigation into allegations Trump attempted to interfere in the state’s 2020 election.
While there is no federal law or provision in the U.S. Constitution that federal criminal cases take priority over state cases, prosecutors often negotiate among themselves regarding which case will proceed first.
