Trump indictment live updates: Trump vows to stay in race even if convicted
Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on federal charges in an investigation into his handling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed on Friday.
The indictment comes after more than 100 documents with classified markings were found at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022.
Trump has been charged with 37 counts: 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information; one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice; one count of withholding a document or record; one count of corruptly concealing a document or record; one count of concealing a document in a federal investigation; one count of scheme to conceal; and one count of false statements and representations.
The indictment of Trump, who has repeatedly denied any allegations of impropriety, is unprecedented for a former president.
Latest Developments
Jun 11, 3:38 PM
Trump plans to speak from NJ after arraignment in Florida
The Trump campaign on Sunday announced that the former president is scheduled to deliver remarks at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey at 8:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, after his scheduled court appearance in Florida earlier that afternoon where he will be arraigned on his 37-count indictment.
After Trump was arraigned in his criminal case in New York City in April, and pleaded not guilty, he similarly addressed supporters -- that time from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
-ABC News' Soo Rin Kim
Jun 11, 2:18 PM
Graham insists Trump is politically 'stronger' after indictment'
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., argued on ABC's "This Week" that Donald Trump is "stronger" after last week's indictment and added that the charges don't impact his support for the former president.
"I think Donald Trump is stronger today politically than he was before. ... We'll have an election, and we'll have a trial, but I promise you this: Most Americans believe, most Republicans believe, that the law is used as a weapon against Donald Trump," Graham said in a testy interview with "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos.
Graham said he did not approve of the former president's handling of classified information but insisted Trump did not deserve to be charged under the Espionage Act
Read more here.
-ABC News' Tal Axelrod
Jun 10, 10:38 PM
Trump continues to attack federal indictment in North Carolina
Former President Donald Trump continued to attack the federal indictment handed down against him this week, telling North Carolina Republicans Saturday night that the charges were "third world country stuff."
"You get indicted over nothing?" he exclaimed.
Trump also mused about whether his alma mater, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, was proud of him for getting indicted.
"I wonder if they say, 'Oh, that's wonderful,'" he said.
-ABC News' Soo Rin Kim, Will McDuffie, Elizabeth Schulze and Arthur Jones
Jun 11, 2:19 PM
Trump vows to stay in the race even if convicted
Former President Donald Trump has vowed to stay in the 2024 presidential race even if he is convicted on the wide-ranging 37-count indictment.
In an interview with a Politico reporter who went on Trump Force One on Saturday, Trump said he will continue to run for president even if he's convicted in his federal case, his spokesperson confirmed.
"I'll never leave," Trump said. "Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory, that was not doable."
A Trump campaign spokesperson confirmed to ABC News that Trump made the comment.
-ABC News' Soo Rin Kim
Jun 10, 7:36 PM
Trump makes 1st public remarks
Former President Donald Trump made his first public remarks since being handed a wide-ranging 37-count indictment from the special counsel's office on Thursday.
"The ridiculous and baseless indictment of me by the Biden administration's weaponized department of injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country," he told supporters Saturday in in Columbus, Georgia.
Hours after addressing Georgia’s Republican convention, Trump again blasted the "thugs and freaks running this country."
"We did absolutely nothing wrong. ... It's a disgrace what's happening. And you know what this country is paying a big price. Should never be allowed to happen," he said at a local Waffle House.
Read more here
Jun 9, 9:14 PM
DeSantis condemns 'weaponization' of federal agencies
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis referred to the "weaponization" of federal agencies – echoing a previous statement in his first public appearance since the indictment of former President Donald Trump.
The governor made his comments at a speech at the North Carolina GOP State Convention in Greensboro on Friday.
"Our founding fathers would have absolutely predicted the weaponization that we've seen with these agencies, particularly Justice and FBI, because when you don't have constitutional accountability, human nature is such that they will abuse their power. And that's what happened," DeSantis said.
As he did on Twitter, DeSantis cited Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden to argue the presence of a double standard of justice in America.
He did not, however, name Trump, who had the steadfast support of some of the attendees.
-ABC News' Will McDuffie and Elizabeth Schulze
Jun 9, 10:09 PM
Christie says facts in Trump indictment are 'devastating'
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addressed the federal indictment against former President Donald Trump and declared that it was "devastating," in an interview Friday with CNN.
Christie, who announced his candidacy this week for president, called it a "very, very evidence-filled indictment" and the facts contained within it "devastating" for Trump.
Christie reiterated that he believed Trump engaged in behavior that was "irresponsible."
Christie also disagreed with some Republicans like Speaker Kevin McCarthy who have warned about the disruption the indictment could cause, saying that Trump's wounds were "self-inflicted" and that he could have avoided this by simply returning the documents.
"He has contributed mightily to subjecting the country to the pain that we're going to go through over the course of the next number of months because of what's going on," Christie said.
-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr
Jun 9, 5:52 PM
Secret Service, Marshals preparing for Trump court appearance
The U.S. Secret Service is preparing for Trump's initial appearance in federal court in Miami on Tuesday as he faces 37 felony counts in a sweeping indictment.
In coordination with the U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement authorities, the Secret Service is working to streamline Trump's movements and minimize the number or locations and the distance he needs to move within the court complex to help secure his appearance.
"While operational security precludes us from going into specifics, the Secret Service will not seek any special accommodations outside of what would be required to ensure the former Presidents continued safety," Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.
A U.S. Marshal spokesperson said that "ensuring that judges can rule independently and free from harm or intimidation is paramount to the rule of law, and a fundamental mission of the USMS."
-ABC News Jack Date
Jun 9, 5:27 PM
GOP Rep. calls for an 'eye for an eye'
Following the unsealing of Trump's indictment, GOP lawmakers continued reacting to the news this afternoon and one included an incendiary remark.
"We have now reached a war phase. Eye for an eye," Rep. Andy Biggs, a Freedom Caucus member and top Trump ally, tweeted.
Another Trump ally, Rep. Clay Higgins, tweeted that "President Trump said he has "been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM. This is a perimeter probe from the oppressors. Hold. rPOTUS has this. Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges. Rock steady calm. That is all."
-ABC News' Gabe Ferris
Jun 9, 5:06 PM
Schumer, Jeffries release joint statement
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a joint statement Friday, "No one is above the law – including Donald Trump."
"This indictment must now play out through the legal process, without any outside political or ideological interference," they said. "We encourage Mr. Trump’s supporters and critics alike to let this case proceed peacefully in court.”
