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Trump’s attorneys, including Todd Blanche, received the target letter from Smith’s team informing them that their client could face charges in the investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election, two sources familiar with what happened tell CNN. A target letter from federal prosecutors to Trump makes clear that prosecutors are focused on the former president’s actions in the investigation into overturning the 2020 election – and not just of those around him who tried to stop his election loss. The target letter cites three statutes that Trump could be charged with, according to multiple news outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, that cited a person familiar with the matter. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged the former president with falsifying business records in March, and Smith charged Trump in the classified documents investigation last month. Read more about the Trump target letter.

Persons: Donald Trump, he’s, Jack Smith, Todd Blanche, Trump, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Smith Organizations: CNN, Trump, Street Journal, Department, Manhattan, Attorney Locations: United States

☆ Special counsel obtains thousands of documents from Rudy Giuliani team that tried to find fraud after 2020 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Paula Reid | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Special counsel continues to schedule witness interviews even as potential Trump indictment loomsSpecial counsel continues to schedule witness interviews even as he moves closer to another possible Tr
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Paula Reid Katelyn Polantz Kara Scannell Hannah Rabinowitz Jeremy Herb | Paula Reid | Katelyn Polantz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

On Thursday, Trump aide Will Russell testified to the grand jury investigating the 2020 election aftermath, including the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. But Smith’s office has continued to investigate the handling of classified material after Trump’s presidency ended, with inquiries of witnesses and grand jury activity. The letter, first reported by ABC News, indicates prosecutors are exploring possible false statement charges related to the employee’s grand jury testimony. Trump also was indicted in late March by a Manhattan grand jury in connection with an alleged hush-money scheme. The special counsel’s office is seeking Kerik’s communications around the 2020 election, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Jack Smith, won’t, Bernie Kerik, indicting Trump, It’s, Smith, Will Russell, Stan Woodward, Woodward, Trevor McFadden, Walt Nauta, Lago, Kerik, Rudy Giuliani, Timothy Parlatore, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Organizations: CNN, Trump, Former New York, Trump Organization, Mar, ABC News Locations: Former New York City, Manhattan

☆ Donald Trump says he’s a target of special counsel’s criminal probe into 2020 election aftermath
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Katelyn Polantz Jeremy Herb Kristen Holmes Kaitlan Collins Paula Reid | Katelyn Polantz | Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In the classified documents case, Trump received a target letter from the special counsel’s office on May 19. Three days after that, on June 8, the grand jury returned an indictment against Trump and his co-defendant and aide Walt Nauta. The special counsel has also probed Trump’s knowledge that he lost the 2020 election, pressure within the Justice Department to help with efforts to overturn the election and fundraising efforts after the election. Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello, told CNN that Giuliani has not received a target letter. The grand jury investigating 2020 election interference is meeting Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Joe Biden’s, ” Trump, Todd Blanche, Trump’s, Smith, Trump . Trump’s, Trump, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Walt Nauta, Fox News ’ Sean Hannity, Mike Pence, Rudy Giuliani, Robert Costello, Giuliani Organizations: CNN, Joe Biden’s DOJ, Sunday, Trump, Trump ., Manhattan, Attorney, Justice, Fox News, “, United, Constitution, Joe, Electoral College, Justice Department, House Locations: Bedminster, Iowa, Washington , DC

☆ Trump Oval Office meeting: Special counsel prosecutors question witnesses about chaotic December 2020 meeting in election probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Kaitlan Collins Zachary Cohen Paula Reid Sara Murray Katelyn Polantz | Kaitlan Collins | Zachary Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Multiple sources told CNN that investigators have asked several witnesses before the grand jury and during interviews about the meeting, which happened about six weeks after Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. Some witnesses were asked about the meeting months ago, while several others have faced questions about it more recently, including Rudy Giuliani. Prosecutors have specifically inquired about three outside Trump advisers who participated in the meeting: former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, one-time national security adviser Michael Flynn and former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne, sources said. They also discussed naming Powell as special counsel to investigate supposed voter fraud, and Trump invoking martial law as part of his efforts to overturn the election. The December 14 date is of particular interest to prosecutors, sources told CNN.

Persons: Jack Smith’s, Trump, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, Patrick Byrne, Byrne, Jack Smith, ”, Robert Costello, Powell, Flynn, Robert O’Brien, Joe Biden, Mike Pence, Pence Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Twitter, West Wing, White House, Electoral College Locations: Washington ,

CNN —Nearly a month after Donald Trump and his aide were indicted in federal court, Walt Nauta is set to appear before a judge in Florida to say he is not guilty. Nauta served as a military valet in the White House under then-President Trump and traveled to Florida with Trump when he left office, eventually taking on the role of his personal aide. But the aide didn’t have a lawyer in Florida who could assist with his representation, delaying his initial plea. But the unprecedented nature of Trump and Nauta’s case, as Trump runs again for the White House, makes timing even more crucial with primary voting for the 2024 GOP nomination beginning early next year. Judge Aileen Cannon, the federal district judge overseeing the case in South Florida, initially set an August trial date, but prosecutors have already asked to begin the trial in December.

Persons: Donald Trump, Walt Nauta, Trump, Nauta, didn’t, Nauta’s, Stanley Woodward, who’ve, ” Timothy Parlatore, CNN’s Paula Reid, ”, “, Walt, Woodward, Aileen Cannon Organizations: CNN, Navy, House, Trump, White Locations: Florida, Lago, Guam, Philadelphia, Miami, ”, South Florida

Special counsel Jack Smith disclosed in a court filing Wednesday that investigators had more tapes of interviews with Trump conducted by non-government entities and recorded with his consent but did not say what the tapes said or how they were obtained. The new reporting provides more insight into how the special counsel conducted its investigation and what kinds of evidence it has. The special counsel previously revealed it obtained audio of an interview Trump gave at Bedminster for Mark Meadows’ memoir in which the special counsel says Trump shared classified information with visitors and aides. Sources familiar with the investigation told CNN the Trump team does not believe the additional recordings are as incriminating as the recording referenced in the indictment unsealed this month. Trump’s team and the special counsel’s office declined to comment.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith, Trump, Mark Meadows, Mark Milley Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Bedminster, Trump, ” Prosecutors Locations: Mark, Bedminster

CNN —Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, will plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and struck a deal with federal prosecutors to resolve a felony gun charge, the Justice Department said Tuesday in court filings. Trump criticized the Hunter Biden plea deal on Truth Social. Hunter Biden’s legal team sought a meeting with the Justice Department in April, which Weiss attended, and where Hunter Biden’s lawyers gave a presentation detailing why they believe Hunter Biden shouldn’t be charged. Part of their argument included that Hunter Biden paid back taxes owed, including penalties. Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Hunter Biden is pleading guilty to two tax charges and struck a deal to resolve the gun charge.

Persons: CNN — Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, David Weiss, Hunter, Christopher Clark, Department’s, “ Hunter, ” Clark, ” “, ”, Ian Sams, Hunter Biden’s, Weiss, Hunter Biden shouldn’t, Prosecutors, Clark, “, Garland, Justice Department wouldn’t, Christopher Wray, he’s, Beau . Hunter Biden, Melissa Cohen, Jake Tapper, –, He’s, ” Joe Biden, Department’s prosecutorial, “ I’m, I’m, Tapper, “ That’s, it’s, General Merrick Garland, Justice Department’s, CEFC, Obama Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Internal, Service, Trump, Government, House, Truth, Biden DOJ, Republican, Democratic, IRS, FBI, Department, people’s Justice Department, Hunter, Justice, CEFC China Energy, White, Yorker, State Department Locations: Delaware, Wilmington, China, Ukraine, United States

☆ Fact check: Debunking Trump’s blizzard of dishonesty about his federal indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Washington CNN —Former President Donald Trump has responded to his federal indictment the way he has responded to various other crises – with a blizzard of dishonesty. Here is a fact check of 10 of the indictment-related claims Trump has made since the 37 federal charges against him were unsealed on Friday. Trump and the Presidential Records ActTrump claimed in North Carolina that he had abided by the Presidential Records Act: “And we had a great – we had a wonderful operation, everything by the Presidential Records Act.”Facts First: This is false. The Presidential Records Act says that all presidential records belong to the federal government the moment the president leaves office. Margaret Kwoka, a law professor at The Ohio State University and an expert on information law, said in a Friday email that “any comparison between congressional records and presidential records is an apples-to-oranges comparison.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden’s, “, ‘, Walt Nauta, HUNT, ”, Everybody, ‘ We’ve, ’, it’s, Brandon Van Grack, Mueller, Harold Martin “, Lago, Ronald Reagan’s, didn’t, ” Jason R, baselessly musing, –, Justice Department “, Trump’s, Biden, Joe Biden, Jack Smith, Smith, General Merrick Garland, Garland, ” Trump, CNN’s Paula Reid, Margaret Kwoka, “ He’s, Biden “, “ he’s, ” Biden Organizations: Washington CNN, Records, FBI, Trump, Trump In, Justice Department, National Security Agency, National Archives, Records Administration, NARA, Presidential Records, Presidential, Mar, White, New York Times, Biden, University of Delaware, The Ohio State University, Biden – Locations: Georgia, North Carolina, Mar, Lago, United States, Florida, Delaware, Washington

“As president, I could have declassified, but now I can’t,” Trump says, according to the transcript. CNN obtained the transcript of a portion of the meeting where Trump is discussing a classified Pentagon document about attacking Iran. The transcript of the audio recording suggests that Trump is showing the document he’s discussing to those in the room. Look, look at this,” Trump says at one point, according to the transcript. Look, look at this.”“Secret” and “confidential” are two levels of classification for sensitive government documents.

Persons: Donald Trump, ” Trump, Trump, Jack Smith’s, he’s, Trump’s, Mark Meadows, Margo Martin, CNN Trump, Mark Milley, Susan Glasser, Milley, –, Smith, General Merrick Garland Organizations: CNN, “, Mar, White, Publicly, Trump, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Yorker, Defense Department, Justice Department Locations: Iran, Florida, Bedminster , New Jersey

☆ Exclusive: Former White House official told federal prosecutors Trump knew of proper declassification process and followed it while in office
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Zachary Cohen Paula Reid | Zachary Cohen | Paula Reid | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

During those voluntary interviews, the former official told CNN there was a distinct difference in the line of questioning from prosecutors in the two probes. Speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity, the former official said he told federal prosecutors that Trump knew the proper process for declassifying documents and followed it correctly at times while in office. Sources previously told CNN that Trump’s team returned some materials but not the document pertaining to Iran. “Nothing approaching an order that foolish was ever given,” Kelly told CNN. Most recently, Trump told CNN at a town hall that materials were “automatically declassified” when he took them.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, Trump’s, ‘, John Eisenberg, Eisenberg, “, Don McGahn, John Kelly, McGahn, Jack Smith, Donald Trump's Mar, Kelly, ” Kelly, Mark Meadows, Jack Smith’s, Meadows, Robert O’Brien, O’Brien, National Intelligence Richard Grenell, Robert Hur, Hur, Kathy Chung, empaneled, Mike Pence’s Organizations: Washington CNN, White House, CNN, Trump, Obama, Mar, The Justice Department, National Security Council, White, National Archives, Department of Justice, Trump’s, Trump’s Mar, Prosecutors, National Intelligence, Biden Locations: Delaware, Russia, Iran, Lago

CNN —Former President Donald Trump has been indicted in the special counsel’s classified documents probe, sources familiar with the matter tell CNN, a stunning development that marks the first time a former president has faced federal charges. Ongoing investigationsTrump has railed against the special counsel investigation and the other probes into his conduct, claiming they are all efforts to stop him politically. After federal investigators retrieved documents from the resort in June, his lawyers later told investigators that they had searched the storage area and that all classified documents were accounted for. In recent months, prosecutors heard from dozens of witnesses, including Trump aides and employees of Mar-a-Lago and the Trump Organization. Prosecutors obtained an audio tape of Trump talking about a classified Pentagon document during a 2021 Bedminster, New Jersey, meeting.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “, ”, ” Trump, General Merrick Garland, Jack Smith, Joe Biden, Fani Willis, Fmr, Lago Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Biden Administration, Justice, Trump, Biden Justice Department, Trump Organization, Democratic, Senate, Trump’s, FBI, Prosecutors, DOJ, National Archives, Mar Locations: Miami, Manhattan, Lago, Fulton County, Georgia, Mar, Washington ,, Florida, Bedminster , New Jersey

The sources have been informed of the target letter and its contents but had not seen it themselves. Justice Department regulations allow for prosecutors to notify subjects of an investigation that they have become a target. Once informed, a target has the opportunity to present evidence or testify to the grand jury if they choose. Last August, FBI agents retrieved more than 100 classified documents from Mar-a-Lago after obtaining a search warrant. Most of the witnesses have appeared before a grand jury in Washington, DC, but in recent weeks a federal grand jury in Florida has heard testimony from multiple witnesses.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Jack Smith’s, Smith, Maggie Haberman, Mark Meadows Organizations: CNN, The Justice Department, Prosecutors, DOJ, Trump, Justice, The New York Times, White, FBI, Mar, White House Locations: Lago, Florida, Washington ,

☆ Exclusive: Trump attorneys haven’t found classified document former president referred to on tape following subpoena
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kaitlan Collins Paula Reid Katelyn Polantz | Kaitlan Collins | Paula Reid | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

On the recording, Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran. Over the course of the Justice Department’s investigation, prosecutors have expressed skepticism that all classified documents had been returned. The federal government recovered dozens of documents with classified markings from Trump at various points throughout 2022. The audio of Trump acknowledging he had a classified document undercuts Trump’s repeated claims that he declassified everything he took from the White House when he left office. Trump attorney Jim Trusty declined to say on CNN this week whether the document was ever returned to the National Archives.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Mark Milley, Trump’s, wouldn’t, Milley, Jack Smith, Smith, “, ” Trump, Mark Meadows, Margo Martin, That’s, Martin’s, Jim Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Joint Chiefs of Staff, White, Lago, Trump, National Archives, Archives, Justice Department, Fox News, Bedminster, Milley Locations: Bedminster , New Jersey, Iran, Lago, Florida, declassify

☆ Trump on tape: Here’s what it means and what’s next
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Most people recall the “Access Hollywood” tape of Trump using vulgar language to argue that “stars” can grab women. It also adds his Bedminster club to the potential locations where Trump had classified documents after leaving office. In response to the report, a Trump campaign spokesman said “leaks” are meant to “inflame tensions” around Trump. (The document Trump references was not produced by Milley, CNN was told.) Besides the ongoing investigations into the aftermath of the 2020 election, here’s what else is looming over Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Jack Smith, who’s, ”, Elie Honig, Jake Tapper, ” Trump, undercuts, Smith, CNN’s Katelyn Polantz, Paula Reid, Kaitlan Collins, Mark Milley, Susan Glasser, Milley, CNN’s Haley Britzky, ” Beth Sanner, “, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Department of Justice, ” CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Milley, Chiefs, National Intelligence Locations: New York, Georgia, Peach State, Bedminster, Trump, Iran, Milley, New Hampshire

The recording indicates Trump understood he retained classified material after leaving the White House, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation. Meadows didn’t attend the meeting, sources said. The revelation that the former president and commander-in-chief has been captured on tape discussing a classified document could raise his legal exposure as he continues his third bid for the White House. On the recording and in response to the story, Trump brings up the document, which he says came from Milley. However, there’s no indication Trump followed the legally mandated declassification process, and his attorneys have avoided saying so far in court whether Trump declassified records he kept.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Jack Smith, Mark Milley, Trump’s, Mark Meadows, Margo Martin, Meadows, Trump “, ”, Dave Butler, Martin, Olivier Douliery, Susan Glasser, Milley, Glasser, ” Milley, Honig, They’ve Organizations: CNN, Federal, White, Justice Department, Trump, Prosecutors, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Milley, Capitol, Getty, Yorker, National Archives, Records Administration, The Justice, Lago, Office, Fox News Locations: Iran, Bedminster , New Jersey, Washington ,, AFP, New, Milley, Lago, Florida, Bedminster, Trump

☆ A Trump lawyer tried to block other members of the former president's legal team from conducting additional searches following the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago, Trump's former lawyer claimed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

He resigned from Trump's team of attorneys on Tuesday. In a CNN interview, Parlatore said there was conflict within Trump's own legal team. Parlatore told CNN that Epshteyn was a "filter" between Trump and his legal team and at times prevented lawyers from providing Trump with information. In a statement, a Trump spokesperson confirmed that Parlatore "is no longer a member of the legal team." "His statements regarding current members of the legal team are unfounded and categorically false," the spokesperson said.

Washington CNN —Timothy Parlatore, an attorney for Donald Trump who played a key role in the Mar-a-Lago documents investigation and once testified before the grand jury, is leaving the former president’s legal team, two sources familiar with the exit tell CNN. The high-profile departure comes as special counsel Jack Smith appears to be in the final stretch of investigations into the possible mishandling of classified documents and efforts to obstruct the 2020 election. The former president’s legal team has been rife with infighting for several months as his attorneys have dealt with the multiple investigations facing him amid his third run for office. Trump has privately expressed unhappiness with his large legal bills and asked why the investigations, namely the documents one, have not yet gone away. Everybody knew we were taking those boxes.”When asked if he had ever shown classified documents to anyone after leaving the White House, he said, “Not really.

☆ Exclusive: Special Counsel investigating Trump set to receive 16 records showing he knew process to properly declassify documents
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Jamie Gangel Zachary Cohen Evan Perez Paula Reid | Jamie Gangel | Zachary Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Trump and his allies have insisted that as president, Trump did not have to follow a specific process to declassify documents. The 16 records may help federal investigators overcome a significant obstacle to a potential prosecution of the former president. The special counsel was also given access to other records not challenged by the Trump team. Ultimately, the special counsel identified the 16 records in question as relevant to the grand jury investigation. “You have the Presidential Records Act.

CNN —Prosecutors for special counsel Jack Smith have been asking questions in recent weeks about the handling of surveillance footage from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort after the Trump Organization received a subpoena last summer for the footage, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation. Prosecutors are expected to ask them about the handling of the surveillance footage and Trump employees’ conversations following the subpoena, according to the sources. Calamari Sr., the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Trump Organization, has primarily overseen security operations for Trump and his properties during his decadeslong career working for Trump. His son, Calamari Jr., is director of security for the Trump Organization. An attorney for Calamari Sr. did not respond to a request for comment.

Smith takes over a staff that’s already nearly twice the size of Robert Mueller’s team of lawyers who worked on the Russia probe. Smith will also take on national security investigators already working the probe into the potential mishandling of federal records taken to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House. Those lawyers maintain the former president is unlikely to be indicted, according to two sources familiar. Special Counsel Robert Mueller makes a statement about the Russia investigation on May 29, 2019 at the Justice Department in Washington, DC. Trump allies have consistently maintained that nothing Trump did related to the election and January 6 itself amounts to a crime.

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