Former President Trump Faces Dual Legal Storms
Special Council Jack Smith's office informed former President Donald Trump that he is the target of an investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. All while a federal judge in Florida sets a trial date on charges he mishandled classified documents.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 Now on to the looming possible third indictment of Donald Trump.
00:04 Special Counsel Jack Smith's office informing the former president that he's the target
00:08 of an investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
00:13 All while a federal judge in Florida sets a trial date on charges he mishandled classified
00:17 documents.
00:18 ABC's Ike Adjachi is in Washington with more.
00:23 Prosecutors with Special Counsel Jack Smith's office seen arriving at the federal courthouse
00:27 in Washington, D.C. Thursday as the grand jury investigating former President Trump's
00:32 efforts to overturn the 2020 election continues its work.
00:36 The grand jury heard testimony from William Russell, a former White House aide who now
00:40 works for Trump's presidential campaign.
00:43 On Sunday, Special Counsel Jack Smith informing Trump by letter that he's a target in his
00:48 investigation, writing that an indictment could be imminent.
00:51 He was given until Friday to testify before the grand jury, which he did not do.
00:56 The grand jury not meeting Friday.
00:58 Sources tell ABC News that the target letter mentioned three federal crimes Trump could
01:02 be charged with.
01:04 Conspiracy to commit an offense against or to defraud the United States, obstruction
01:09 of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to deprive people of rights.
01:13 All this as a Florida federal judge thwarts Trump's efforts to indefinitely delay his
01:17 classified documents trial.
01:19 Judge Eileen Cannon scheduling this trial for May 20th, a compromise date later than
01:24 prosecutors had sought, but sooner than Trump wanted.
01:27 Judge Cannon says the prosecution's request for a December trial was too soon, given the
01:32 complexity of the case and the massive amount of evidence.
01:35 Analysts say now the focus turns to jury selection.
01:38 This is in the state of Florida, which is pretty heavily Republican leaning.
01:42 It's really important probably for the prosecution not to have someone who just believes in Donald
01:47 Trump period, regardless of the facts, because the facts, at least as we know publicly, are
01:51 pretty strong for the government.
01:54 Trump's campaign called the trial date a setback for the DOJ, saying it will give Trump's legal
01:59 team time to fight.
02:00 In the meantime, Trump prepares for two other unrelated trials through next year.
02:05 Aik Adjaji, ABC News, Washington.