This is a mega-post, an effort to organize the many facets of Trump’s second indictment in one post. Not content to be the first ex-President indicted for crimes, Trump upped the ante with his second indictment, this time a federal one. Don’t forget that we have Georgia election interference on deck, probably some time this summer, followed by the January 6 insurrection charges. 🤯
You’re forgiven if all the classified documents mishandling news over the past year has become a hot mess in our collective brains, so here’s the birdseye view of how we got here: timeline of events in the classified documents investigation.
Trump followed his standard playbook for defending his indefensible actions, which usually takes the form of: I didn’t do it, and even if I did, it’s because I was allowed to do it, and even if I wasn’t allowed to do it, let’s talk about Hunter’s laptop and Hillary’s e-mails. Here’s a recap of Trump’s defenses to-date.
A January 2018 law signed by Trump made unauthorized removal and retention of US government classified information a felony. Oh the irony.
Trump’s legal team resigns immediately after reading the details of the federal indictment. Whoopsie!
GOP and Trump supporter playbook tactic #7 — whataboutism? What about her e-mails?? Here’s a quick comparison of Clinton and Biden’s classified information fiascos to Donald’s.
Trump enters not-guilty plea for his Espionage Act, false statements, and obstruction charges. Case assigned to Aileen Cannon. 🤨
DOJ feels compelled to file a motion to instruct Donald to keep quiet and not reveal any more classified information, while he’s being prosecuted for revealing classified information.
GOP leaders are either voicing support or remaining notably silent in the wake of the indictment
Discovery is underway, and Trump pleads with Congress for a lifeline
Trump team diverts even more campaign contributions to his legal defense fund.
Prosecutors have kept Trump’s recorded conversations secret for more than six months. Four days after Trump’s team gets access, a recording is mysteriously “leaked” to the press. In the same sentence, Trump claims the leak is both damning and exonerating.
Trump asks judge overseeing his case (his appointee) to indefinitely delay his trial, stating that it shouldn’t occur until after the 2024 election concludes, at the earliest.
Photo by Carles Rabada on Unsplash
