Discussion Thread: Justice Department Officials Make a Statement to the Press on Trump Indictment at 3 p.m. Eastern

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

Primary Sources:

• CourtListener: United States of America v. Donald J. Trump and Waltine Nauta

Where to Watch:

• The US Department of Justice: www.justice.gov/live

• C-SPAN: Special Counsel Jack Smith Delivers Statement on Indictment of President Trump

[u/ctdca]

It said he had illegally kept hold of documents concerning “United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.”

He’s a traitor. There’s no reason to keep those other than to leverage them against the US.

[u/PandaGoggles → u/ctdca]

It’s so wild, right? What the fuck was he thinking? What amount of money is worth that risk?

[u/onbran → u/PandaGoggles]

i would be shocked if he doesnt try to claim asylum in Russia.

[u/ianjm → u/onbran]

Take his passport now

[u/citizenkane86 → u/PandaGoggles]

It’s not the money, it’s the power. He has always wanted to be cool but he’s always been super off putting to the wealthy in New York. his day to day supporters he considers low class and doesn’t want to be near them, so he found “acceptance” in powerful dictators overseas. They of course think he’s an idiot but they can get this info out of him and make him think they think he’s cool

[u/Churrasco_fan → u/ctdca]

He's a traitor and he is absolutely going to jail. DOJ isn't missing on all 37 counts, no chance

[u/jhorch69 → u/Churrasco_fan]

37!? Try not to commit any crimes on your way through the parking lot!

[u/Stevie_Rave_On → u/jhorch69]

Did he say “making fuck”?

[u/nycpunkfukka → u/Stevie_Rave_On]

My love for you is like a truck BERSERKER!

[u/AcesCharles2 → u/jhorch69]

37 charges?!

In a row?!

[u/chownrootroot → u/AcesCharles2]

Trusty: Including obstructing justice with me??

Trump: 38.

[u/sayyyywhat → u/ctdca]

Not a doubt in my mind that once he was forced out of the Oval Office against his will that he decided this was his revenge. If he can’t be in power then he wanted it to burn.

[u/RemilGetsPolitical → u/sayyyywhat]

It never seemed like he planned to win, just to grift donors. But once he won, I'd venture a guess he started hoarding documents from day 1 as an additional item of value to grift.

[u/Somebullshtname → u/RemilGetsPolitical]

After he intervened to get Kushner clearance, Saudi Jared proceeded to make a crazy amount of record requests.

A month later the Saudi royal family cracked down on dissidents and spies. Overnight Prince Bone Saw consolidated his power.

Just a coincidence. That 2 billion Saudi Jared got after that fat orange piece of shit lost again? Just another coincidence I’m sure.

[u/anxietystrings]

37 fucking counts. He violated the Espionage Act by taking documents relating to nuclear programs, military programs, and documents pertaining to the military capabilities of other countries. The cautious optimist in me wants to say that he is fucked.

[u/HippoRun23 → u/anxietystrings]

Holy shit. That's insane.

[u/tuxedo_jack → u/HippoRun23]

That's way worse than what the Rosenbergs did (or were framed for doing), and they got the chair for it.

EDIT: so far no details have been released about who had access to these documents or why the boxes in the storage room were found knocked over and spilled everywhere. The lack of access control is worrisome, given the sheer amount of individuals who went through MAL, and we know that foreign actors frequented the joint. While we can't yet prove that specific foreign actors exercised access to the items (limited or otherwise), it would be INCREDIBLY remiss not to dig into it or consider that as a possibility.

[u/seakingsoyuz → u/tuxedo_jack]

The key bit for the Rosenbergs is they were also accused of providing the information to a foreign actor. That's what made it a capital crime.

Four of the charges on Trump's indictment can go up to a twenty-year sentence though. Given his age, there's a good chance he spends the rest of his life in a cell if convicted.

[u/real_agent_99 → u/seakingsoyuz]

Yes...we don't have a charge of sharing with foreign actor(s)...YET

[u/Marathon2021 → u/anxietystrings]

Even in /r/conservative a lot of them are basically saying "yeah, he's fucked" - it's quite a sight to behold.

[u/Voittaa → u/Marathon2021]

Sprinkle in the what-about-Hillary-isms and baby you got a stew goin’.

[u/SeaworthinessLeft88 → u/Marathon2021]

Quite a few coping posts there too, saying “BUT BIDEN!” and “BUT OBAMA!”, ignoring the fact that none of Biden, Obama, Hillary, even fucking Mike Pence, ever showed people without clearances classified documents while saying, “look at this top secret document! I shouldn’t be showing it to you, since it’s highly classified, won’t you look at it?!” Also, none of these people purposefully hid the classified documents when asked for them back. None of these people instructed their attorneys to lie about the classified documents.

A lot of r/conservative are still heavily coping and making excuses in their indictment thread, despite many saying that Trump is fucked.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

[removed] — view removed comment

[u/zombieblackbird → u/[deleted]]

A new bar has been set

[u/[deleted] → u/zombieblackbird]

[removed] — view removed comment

[u/Mattllly]

The indictment is actually pretty fucking surreal. Like I’m not surprised but also, holy shit.

On Inauguration Day the dude was literally leading a heist from the White House.

[u/mimzynull → u/Mattllly]

No wonder he couldn't be bothered to attend Biden's inaugeration, he was too busy stealing and committing treason :/

[u/count023 → u/mimzynull]

Called in sick, "sorry, I have treasonal allergies "

[u/DylanHate → u/Mattllly]

Here's a link to the full indictment.

Well worth the read.

[u/Kichigai → u/DylanHate]

For anyone thinking about skipping it, it's 49 pages of double spaced text, with wide margins, so maybe more like 20 typed pages. It's all in plain English, and very clear, concise, and easily digested.

[u/GoatBread → u/Kichigai]

They did a very good job making the doc readable. I usually have some trouble with legal docs. Kudos to the doj for making it digestible to the masses !

[u/prettynormalme → u/Mattllly]

In the wise words of Stephen Colbert, who i dearly miss these days (pay the goddamn writers, you greedy fucking fucks!) ..

"Just as bad as you thought, but also worse than you ever imagined"

[u/Thosepassionfruits → u/prettynormalme]

God, I wish Colbert, Meyers, and Klepper were on the air for this right now.

[u/prettynormalme → u/Thosepassionfruits]

John Oliver too. Can you imagine the Stupid Watergate III (or whatever the count has gotten to at this point) episode this would have made 😭

[u/Untalented-Host]

Holy Shit... nuclear documents!!

Conservatives really went all in for the stereotypical stupid 1980s villain of every macho-action film they love

"and stole classified nuclear documents from a secret government facility. Only one man"

[u/GonzaloR87]

Seems like everything Trump did was very illegal and very uncool

[u/Th3Seconds1st → u/[deleted]]

This is everything I ever hoped he’d get caught for and I’m beside myself I actually was able to see it go down.

[u/GeneralCheese]

Don't mind me, just sharing THE UNITED STATES VULNERABILITY TO ATTACKS

[u/PandaGoggles → u/GeneralCheese]

What’s so crazy about this to me is his supporters are all hawkish pro military folks, but here is their leader selling out their country and they’ll still justify it!

[u/Sand_Dargon → u/PandaGoggles]

The most important thing is that he upsets the educated and/or moral people.

[u/PandaGoggles → u/Sand_Dargon]

He upset me a lot so I’m taking your comment as a personal compliment about my intelligence and education level.

[u/Loopuze1 → u/PandaGoggles]

They aren’t pro military, that’s just another lie they tell themselves. It’s not about how patriotic they are, it’s how patriotic they think they are in comparison to you. The only real core value Republicans have is anti-Americanism. They hate and look down on the majority of the people in this country, and everything they do is in service of maintaining their delusions of superiority.

[u/GalaxyTriangulum]

BBC just commented on the contents of the classified documents in his possession. Quote: "information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries" and "United States nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the US and its allies to military attach, as well as plans for possible retaliation given foreign attacks on the US or its allies.". I'm certain our enemies have been having a field day with this information. Despicable.

[u/protendious → u/GalaxyTriangulum]

Just to primarily source it, it's right in the indictment itself, page 2, bullet #3 of the introduction:

The classified documents TRUMP stored in his boxes includes information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.

[u/PandaGoggles → u/GalaxyTriangulum]

I wonder if and who he gave them to, and what the consequences of that will be?

[u/bergskey → u/PandaGoggles]

Idk why did the Saudis give $2 billion to Jared Kushner? Couldn't possibly be related, could it?

[u/MainStreetRoad → u/bergskey]

Not only that, but they pay him $25M annually just to “manage” that $2B

edit: Kushner’s company “stands to receive a $25 million management fee annually from the Saudi investment plus a share of the profits.” https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-kushner-saudi-arabia-mbs-corruption-rcna70598

[u/feraxks → u/MainStreetRoad]

But Hunter is a criminal.....smh

[u/Mattllly]

Let’s give a quick shout out to Trump Attorney 1 for taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy

[u/[deleted] → u/Mattllly]

Everyone but trump knows how to cover their ass.

[u/CooterSam → u/[deleted]]

She was out front of it at the time of the raid trying to cover her ass saying that she was told to sign the documents, which is why she added the "according to what I've been told." She needed to tell him to sign his own shit.

[u/Ray3142 → u/Mattllly]

creator of "The Wire" David Simon today:

Am aware of many political types today citing some TV dialogue about not taking notes on a criminal conspiracy. Gratified, yet we wrote our Baltimore players as at least half-smart, and not the easiest prey for common vanities and insecurities. Trump is a pompous, fatuous fool.

[u/SilentBlizzard1]

The special counsel says Trump retained classified documents from his classified daily intelligence briefings, which included sensitive information provided to him by the following agencies:

The Central Intelligence Agency

The Department of Defense

The National Security Agency

The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency

The National Reconnaissance Office

The Department of Energy

The Department of State

Listing them out as such really drives home how much trouble he's in. Seven different agencies? Yikes.

[u/KiffToker → u/SilentBlizzard1]

The Department of Energy is related to Nukes, right?

[u/breakfast_organisms → u/KiffToker]

It would also have information on our grid infrastructure of electricity that’s been coincidentally targeted in the last year and a half - the substation attacks

[u/nicholasgnames → u/breakfast_organisms]

see also the abnormally high number of CIA agents or informants killed last year

Correction: in 2021

[u/[deleted]]

Holy fuck, he was showing off Pentagon battle plans and maps. Any Republican who is still supporting Trump by this evening is a traitor to the country.

[u/Mylaptopisburningme → u/[deleted]]

He hid boxes in a fucking bathroom... Top secret shit.

[u/Drunky_Brewster → u/Mylaptopisburningme]

He had them stacked up on a stage in a ballroom!

[u/PandaGoggles → u/[deleted]]

That what always gets me about these supposedly pro-military conservatives. How do they justify him selling out our armed forces?

[u/evelynesque → u/PandaGoggles]

The excuse I always hear is “he is president he can share what he wants with who he wants” and there’s no explaining to them that their golden calf god emperor is a fucking traitor who sold our nations secrets to the dictator who praised him the most.

[u/HolaItsEd → u/evelynesque]

"Oh, so Biden could do it if he wants?"

"No, that'd be treason.

[u/KnownRate3096 → u/HolaItsEd]

Yeah my favorite retort is to throw Biden in there.

When they said all the J6 stuff was legal, I said "So if Trump wins in 2024, Biden can just stop the certification and select his own electors and say he won, right?"

[u/Rated_PG-Squirteen]

Our nation's most closely guarded secrets were kept at Mar-a-Lago for over one and half years in Donald Trump's safe, his desk, a bathroom, a ballroom stage, A FUCKING RANDOM SHOWER! He showed several of these top secret documents to random people, remarking each time that he shouldn't even be showing it to them.

[u/WigginIII → u/Rated_PG-Squirteen]

Something tells me his ego lead him to leave highly classified documents eveywhere, and showed them to others, because he wanted to insist he was still president and getting security briefings.

"Wow! Trump is working so hard at being Secret President, he left this Top Secret folder right here in the Men's restroom!"

[u/Chaiteoir → u/WigginIII]

He also wanted classified documents about Iran's military to sell to his golf buddies in Saudi Arabia

[u/plainlyput → u/Chaiteoir]

Somebody had to be helping him. I don't think he is capable of sorting through the documents on his own, let alone comprehending them & knowing what would be valuable to others. He has the attention span of a gnat.

[u/notanactualemail2 → u/plainlyput]

Jared. Saudis. $2B. Enough said.

[u/the_skies_falling → u/notanactualemail2]

Mark Meadows. He's been right there with Trump every step of the way. You have to ask yourself why the DOJ declined to indict him for contempt of Congress for ignoring the Jan 6 committee subpoena, or why he hasn't been implicated in any of Trump's crimes. My guess is the dude's been singing like a canary to the feds.

[u/huskersax → u/WigginIII]

He's also so incredibly unread when it comes to history that he appears, per the quotes in the indictment, to think that the military having war plans available means that they want to invade a country.

The entire premise of projecting American power abroad is that we are capable of invading anywhere in the world within 45 minutes. Anywhere.

It allows our fleet's mere presence near a country to be more than sufficient power projection to get what we need, and it allows allies to understand no matter what happens that we can aid in their defense, and our research can be shared to iteratively improve each other's security when appropriate. (the "Five Eyes" designation in the indictment, for example).

[u/Procean → u/huskersax]

capable of invading anywhere in the world with 45 minutes.

In fact, if we can't get armed troops into your country in 45 minutes or less, The Pizza is free!

[u/VeryVito → u/Rated_PG-Squirteen]

I’m betting they weren’t kept there, but were often removed and shopped around to the highest bidders.

[u/TheCee → u/VeryVito]

They were moved around, sorted through. I'm nauseous reading the he indictment. Whatever happens to Trump, Nauta's life is probably over.

[u/dstew74 → u/TheCee]

Dude was a navy. He knew better.

[u/DougieWR → u/VeryVito]

Even easier, how many foreign intelligence services do you think embedded agents or sources into that place starting from when he first announced his initial run for president? They had years to get access into that place before all of this showed up

[u/Daniiiiii → u/DougieWR]

Also makes you wonder what is missing because that is harder to gauge.

[u/Starskigoat → u/Daniiiiii]

There is little reason to not take Mar Lago apart down to the studs.

[u/Beautiful-Musk-Ox → u/Daniiiiii]

Also it doesn't matter if all documents are returned, it's trivial to make high quality photographs of them.

[u/DownbeatForDanger]

They have him on tape admitting to knowing he is committing a crime while committing the crime. Fucking amazing

[u/orrocos → u/DownbeatForDanger]

TRUMP: What we're doing is going into the bank, using the threat of force to take money that isn't ours, and then driving away with that money.

STAFFER: Yeah. [Laughter] Now we have a problem.

TRUMP: Isn't that interesting?”

[u/DownbeatForDanger → u/orrocos]

"Isn't that interesting" is the best part. I need a shirt.

37 felony charges. Isn't that interesting?

[u/Ello_Owu]

Jack Smith is what we all thought Mueller was going to be. That was some powerful stuff.

[u/UltravioletAfterglow → u/Ello_Owu]

Fortunately, Jack Smith’s investigation does not have the restraints Robert Mueller’s investigation had.

[u/dronesclubmember]

Some of the nation’s most sensitive secrets, stored on a stage in a public ballroom….

[u/ScotTheDuck → u/dronesclubmember]

The fact that he kept them in a bathroom the same way my dad keeps his woodworking magazines...

[u/g2g079 → u/dronesclubmember]

Nuclear documents stored in a bathroom.

[u/Politics_Knower]

Transcript of Jack Smith's statement that I just typed up (may not be perfect):

Good afternoon, today an indictment was unsealed charging Donald J. Trump with felony violations of our national security laws as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice. This indictment was voted by a grand jury of citizens in the Southern District of Florida, and I invite everyone to read it in full to understand the scope and the gravity the crimes charged.

The men and women of the United States intelligence community and our armed forces dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and its people. Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced.

Violations of those laws put our country at risk. Adherence to the rule of law is a bedrock principle of the Department of Justice and our nation's commitment to the rule of law sets an example for the world.

We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone. Applying those laws, collecting facts, that's what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more, and nothing less.

The prosecutors in my office are among the most talented and experienced in the Department of Justice. They have investigated this case hewing to the highest ethical standards, and they will continue to do so as this case proceeds.

It's very important for me to note that the defendants in this case must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. To that end, my office will seek a speedy trial in this matter consistent with the public interest and the rights of the accused. We very much look forward to presenting our case.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the dedicated public servants of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with whom my office is conducting this investigation and who work tirelessly every day upholding the rule of law in our country. I'm deeply proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. Thank you very much.

[u/Comprehensive_Ad1649 → u/Politics_Knower]

MVP. Thanks for typing this up.

[u/tifanietiberio]

https://i.imgur.com/YhKkCQ0.jpg

Text messages show a Trump family member communicating about fitting boxes on their private plane.

[u/FarceMultiplier]

This blows away ANY excuses his supporters have been making about his ability to declassify or the claims they were declassified. https://imgur.com/5yW3pk2

[u/FlyingSMonster → u/FarceMultiplier]

Jesus, the absolute stupidity of this man. This is a man that has never had to deal with consequences his entire life and truly thought he would get away with anything.

[u/Wazula23 → u/FarceMultiplier]

"Nuh uh fake news"

• his supporters

[u/WraithSama]

Over in the conservative subreddit, there's a surprising number of flaired users admitting that the unsealed indictment, now that they've seen it, looks airtight and really bad for Trump. I'm shocked, tbh.

[u/GoodChristianBoyTM → u/WraithSama]

They'll be banned as rinos soon enough. Gotta protect the hugbox

[u/Aluminum_Falcons → u/WraithSama]

That's how it always happens over there. A news story breaks that is bad for Trump and the posts there look sane for a short period of time. Shortly thereafter it's like a hive mind takes over and the posts are back to the usual bs.

[u/minor_correction → u/Aluminum_Falcons]

This is also a pattern with Fox, conservative radio hosts, etc. Particularly for the biggest stories.

They'll sometimes start out with some facts-based reporting for the first day of a big story, then gradually fade into "Is this really a big deal?" and then finally outright denial or "This terrible thing is actually a good thing!"

[u/svrtngr → u/WraithSama]

Give them until 8 PM and Fox News gives them their marching orders. The software update hasn't come in yet.

[u/antikythera3301 → u/WraithSama]

Mods haven’t deleted the comments yet, I guess.

[u/does_taxes]

This should be really, really upsetting to all the people who work to keep our country safe. It’s damn depressing how many people conservative media has conditioned to hate Hillary and pardon this bullshit. I only hope Florida manages to not fuck this up and that Trump finally faces a fraction of the justice he is due for what he and his ilk have done to our nation.

[u/PissLikeaRacehorse]

Again, winning the presidency was the worst thing that ever happened to Trump. Dude could’ve been slinging steaks and crap for the rest of his life but now going to jail.

[u/spazzcat → u/PissLikeaRacehorse]

And all because some black man made fun of him

[u/[deleted] → u/spazzcat]

Good ol' Barry didn't cast the first stone.

This man harassed a United States citizen for months for his birth certificate, just because he was black. No other reason.

Trump started this shit over documents, and it will end with him being wrecked by documents

[u/Solo-Shindig → u/[deleted]]

Can we talk about the AWESOMENESS of the indictment using direct quotes from Trump himself about the importance of secret documents? They are using his slams on Clinton as evidence that he knew better.

[u/wayoverpaid → u/Solo-Shindig]

They really want to demonstrate that he broke the law, knew he was breaking the law, and knew it was a very serious law to break.

[u/brithus]

Pretty damning info in the filing:

*3. The classified documents TRUMP stored in his boxes included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries, US nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the US and its allies to military attack and plans for for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.

[u/RemainingAnonymoose]

The DOJ has a 99.6% conviction rate according to PEW research. They have 37 counts to swing on.

I'm not saying this is it, but this looks like it could be it.

[u/AndySkibba]

The inditement is fucking crazy.

I feel like I'm committing a crime just reading the document designations.

SCI//FVEY//FISA//NOFORN

Fuck me running.

[u/aristidedn → u/AndySkibba]

Multiple documents in there required codeword clearance other than SI/TK/HCS - codewords corresponding to categories of information so sensitive that the codewords themselves had to be redacted.

[u/AndySkibba → u/aristidedn]

Yeah. That's how you know he's fucked himself hard.

[u/tuxedo_jack → u/aristidedn]

That sort of thing implies EXTREMELY high-level sources or assets... and I'd put money on the agencies running them being able to either confirm they're dead or that they've been issuing bug-out orders for years.

[u/[deleted] → u/aristidedn]

When I saw the explanation of FIVEYS classification I bout shit myself. The very idea that someone would be waving something like that around casually scares me. It's like radiation but it gives your freedom cancer.

[u/IlliterateJedi → u/AndySkibba]

Don't forget the ones with the redacted designations. So classified the classification is classified. And the nuclear docs.

[u/AndySkibba → u/IlliterateJedi]

Yep. When you can't even show the classifications, you're in too deep

[u/Mattllly → u/AndySkibba]

Some of the designations themselves are fucking [redacted]

like we can’t even see the acronym it’s so secret!

[u/e9tjqh]

You maga morons really did it, you elected a guy so unfit for office he managed to get indicted multiple times. Truly remarkable decision making.

[u/EivorIsle]

Trump is so fucked. This is far from a witch hunt. This is a fat ass witch caught red handed. This is the most successful with hunt in American history.

Fucked, he is so fucked. Supremely fucked. He deserves this!

[u/astrograph → u/EivorIsle]

I hope trump drags other pos that conspired with him down.

The whole cabal they keep point fingers at .. turns out are themselves

[u/lol_conservatives]

Republicans - “ackshully, selling classified documents to hostile foreign entities is okay because one time a librul hurt my feelings.”

Hey assholes, this is reality happening right here right now. Remember reality? You absolute fucking clowns.

[u/seagulpinyo → u/lol_conservatives]

If they knew how to read they’d be very upset.

[u/t_zidd]

F5 FRIDAYS ARE BACK!!!

[u/[deleted]]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hepv1SBGmE

that clip will go down in history

[u/DaveVsShark → u/[deleted]]

"enforce all lores" 😆

[u/MysteryNeighbor]

Trump may as well have skipped right into federal prison.

What kind of absolute moron treats classified documents like this? It is legitimately terrifying that somebody this stupid held the highest office in the land

[u/Noiserawker → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I mean Hillary literally told the nation live on TV on a debate stage that he was a fucking spy and people still just blew it off.

[u/GluggGlugg]

I love that the indictment references his comments about Hillary's emails in 2016 and how we needed a POTUS who protects classified info. The irony is rich.

[u/Politics_Knower]

CNN: Prosecutors highlight Trump’s own public statements in indictment

Several of the statements highlighted by prosecutors are from Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Trump repeatedly lambasted the mishandling of classified information and said that he would aggressively enforce laws surrounding their protection if elected.

“In my administration, I’m going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information,” Trump said in August 2016. “No one will be above the law.” “We can’t have someone in the Oval Office who doesn’t understand the meaning of the word confidential or classified,” Trump said in another campaign trail statement, according to the indictment.

The indictment also points to a statement that Trump made as president in 2018: “I have a unique, Constitutional responsibility to protect the Nation’s classified information,” he said.

[u/soysaucepapi → u/Politics_Knower]

Truly r/leopardsatemyface material

[u/StJeanMark]

When will we come together as a country and accept the fact that Donald Trump was not only a bad President, he was a traitor. This is really looking like Trump took our most secret information for nefarious purposes. I'm not convinced he didn't leave the documents "lying around" so spies could get them with plausible deniability. This literally couldn't be worse. This is the absolute worst thing a President has ever done.

Is supporting someone in a fucking political competition worth possibly dying because he gave our plans and secrets away? There is a version of reality where, using the information we KNOW he had, attacks could be made against us with nothing we could do. Do you really support someone enough you and everyone you love should die over it?

"included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack, and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack”.

Do you hate liberals SO much that you and everyone you know should die over it? Do you hate liberals SO much that America should fall over it? Not democracy falling, America itself.

[u/PandaGoggles → u/StJeanMark]

Sadly I think never. His true believers really are like a cult, it’s so crazy. It’s the culmination of the whole evangelical movement, and their “moral majority”. Trump was their last big hurrah before they retire and die.

[u/El_mochilero]

This Walt Nauta guy is probably gonna flip on Trump before I can finish writing this comment.

[u/[deleted] → u/El_mochilero]

He's looking at decades in prison. Take a plea, save yourself, bury the traitor.

[u/PandaGoggles]

37 charges, holy shit. A ton of them have a maximum sentence of 20 years too. They nailed him with a bunch of his own quotes. It’s beautiful. He must be melting down on truth social right about now.

[u/EivorIsle → u/PandaGoggles]

The only way I could enjoy this more is if there was a police chance in a golf cart being driven by him or Jr.

[u/Snarl_Marx]

I love how this indictment is like, "here's a case of Trump's criminal wrongdoing, now here's him saying he knows it's criminal and calls the crime horrible." It's like watching The Daily Show in its Jon Stewart prime.

1. On February 16, 2017, four years before TRUMP's disclosures of classified information set forth above, TRUMP said at a press conference:

The first thing I thought when I heard about it is, how does the press get this information that's classified? How do they do it? You know why? Because it's an illegal process, and the press should be ashamed of themselves. But more importantly, the people that gave out the information to the press should be ashamed of themselves. Really ashamed.

This was after the description of Trump showing the classified Iran invasion documents to members of the media. Jack brought the receipts.

[u/Br3akTh3Toys]

Donald Trump is the biggest traitor to the United States in history

[u/_mdz]

To anyone that got blue balls from this statement: go read the actual indictment, it's hilarious, has all the details, calls him out on shit he said on tv, even has some pictures.

Edit: https://static.c-spanvideo.org/files/pressCenter/indictment-trump-060823.pdf

[u/Borazon]

Da fak, that list of documents are so many specifically about foreign country military capabilities, nuclear secrets and such.

So much for Trumps arguments about it being documents to proof stuff about Russia hoaxes or such.

It was 100% to either sell to foreign countries, or to hold hostage vs the DOJ.

And some of the dates they mentions seem to correlate to specifically noteworthy events with regards to Iran/Saudi tensions and/or Saudi/Yemeni war.

[u/Politics_Knower]

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1667232235294957583?s=20

The indictment: Trump was PERSONALLY INVOLVED in packing boxes at the White House — and in early 2021 had some classified documents stored on a ballroom stage, then stored in a bathroom and a shower.

[pics of relevant pages of the indictment]

[u/HippoRun23]

There were so many ways he could have profited off his presidency.

He could have opened a Trump-themed restaurant on shady business loans from foreign nations. Or a series of slum hotels in developing nations.

He could have gone on a speaking tour.

signed a deal with some right-wing nazi broadcast company and made his own talk show.

But no. Donny had to fly too close to the sun.

[u/half_dozen_cats → u/HippoRun23]

He could have sold MAGA masks alone when covid hit and easily been rich and costed into presidency again. He's just so stupid.

[u/HippoRun23 → u/half_dozen_cats]

He could have won re-election if he just listened to the scientists. It was a fucking layup! National emergency?

YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT! All he had to do was read the standard "I am here for all Americans in this tough time" script.

[u/Bobodahobo010101 → u/HippoRun23]

He could have won reelection if he just told people to vote by mail - that's the scary thing.

[u/StJeanMark]

I will NEVER forgive republicans for this. Thanks for putting me and everyone I know and love at risk of fucking dying all so you could support an 80s movie villain. I hope owning the libs was worth it when your getting fucking killed because of the information this anti-christ gave away. I fucking hate you for this, I don't know how long its going to take me to feel safe again.

[u/[deleted] → u/StJeanMark]

I’ll never vote R again. I’ve done it once or twice throughout my life but not now. Not a drop of power for them from my pen.

[u/Evening_Clerk_8301 → u/[deleted]]

i appreciate that, thank you.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I haven’t voted R since I was 18 for Ron Paul, and I never plan to the rest of my life, I hope the whole party goes down

[u/BlackhotLoads]

"The classified documents TRUMP stored in his boxes included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack."

[u/Bulky_Consideration → u/BlackhotLoads]

Estimated to be worth about 2 Billion Saudi Bucks

[u/Daefish]

Oh man if this is the guy who is speaking at the prosecution, Trump is fucked. He's got the right cadence and right timbre to relate directly to a jury.

[u/ARazorbacks]

He kept briefings from the Department of Energy. They oversee the US nuclear arsenal. Jesus christ.

[u/halfsweethalfstreet]

Remember when we all kind of wondered what Jared sounded like, because he never spoke...then one day he did a press conference sounding like Mickey Mouse......this was the complete opposite of that.

[u/Mattllly]

Dude taking a vacay from prosecuting WAR CRIMES at The Hague to come home and sort out this mess.

[u/hifumiyo1]

BBC reporting nuclear weapons documents were among the files, and stored in a bathroom at one point!? Wtaf

[u/DTsniffsIvankasfarts]

Imagine 2013 you got a visit from current you in Doc Brown's time machine, and you told you:

'the former Potus, that loud mouthed idiot with the fucked hair from that Apprentice show, is being indicted for hiding nuclear secrets in his tacky Florida resort. Oh, and his dipshit cult tried to overthrow the government when he lost reelection. And I almost forgot: while this was all happening a million plus Americans died in a global pandemic.'

[u/jar45]

Extremely on-brand that Trump kept Top Secret files in the shitter

[u/Reluctant_Firestorm]

Could it be that Trump's legal team resigned when they saw how serious the charges were? It's one thing to represent an utter clown, but it's another thing entirely to represent a traitor to your country.

[u/greentreesbreezy → u/Reluctant_Firestorm]

Some have speculated that some of Trump's attorneys may be charged as well and so (as co-conspirators) they are unable to represent him.

[u/Mattllly]

COUNT 19 SECRET//FORMALLY RESTRICTED DATA

Undated document concerning nuclear weaponry of the United States

Jesus fucking Christ

[u/1st100CutsAreDeepest]

"We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone."

Damn that is so nice to hear after the last 10 years.

[u/[deleted]]

Godspeed r/conservative

Edit: I am banned from posting on that sub however based on the comment threads, there are several conservatives who are very level headed and see the gravity of this while other mentioned something about a laptop 🙃

[u/OkRoll3915]

this is how he stored our country's top secrets. Nuclear secrets, US vulnerabilities, military battle plans. Our lives and security were threatened because he put these top secret documents in a fucking resort bathroom.

[u/Meb2x]

The details included in the indictment are insane and even worse than I imagined. There are at least two known events where Trump was showing these documents to people and telling them how confidential the information was. The Justice Department also can’t find some of these documents which is terrifying.

[u/t_zidd]

So basically Mar a Lago was a flea market for national security secrets.

[u/Snarl_Marx]

On December 7, 2021, NAUTA found several of TRUMP's boxes fallen and their contents spilled onto the floor of the Storage Room, including a document marked "SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY," which denoted that the information in the document was releasable only to the Five Eyes intelligence alliance consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. NAUTA texted Trump Employee 2, "I opened the door and found this..." NAUTA also attached two photographs he took of the spill. Trump Employee 2 replied, "Oh no oh no," and "I'm sorry potus had my phone." One of the photographs NAUTA texted to Trump Employee 2 is depicted below with the visible classified information redacted.

The very best people.

[u/Ontheroadtw]

Homie is fuccckked

https://i.imgur.com/VaFH1Ww.jpg

[u/OppositeDifference]

to me "Speedy Trial" means he intends to have this wrapped up before the Republican primary gets into full swing.

[u/mimzynull]

I have never been more thankful that Mr. McOrange never knows when to shut his trap. It made him infuriating to listen to, but hey, it finally came in handy. I love that the indictments include his direct quotes.

[u/OppositeDifference]

Nauta's a really good candidate to flip. He's a young guy who's looking at like 90 years here. If he completely gives away the store and tells them everything he knows and is able to substantiate further charges against Trump, that might be more like 5-10. He could still have a life.

[u/BlackIronSaturn]

Even Nixon knew when to bow out.

This festering heap of idiocy is literally going to go down in history as the biggest failure the world has ever seen. I mean, sure, you can hang your hat up on a lot of things, but I wouldn't have imagined this would be the rack to hang it on.

Had he just kept to himself, who knows where he would have been, but now? This is his legacy. It will forever be his legacy, and he has damned anyone who is even indirectly related to him to similar fates. This is the kind of shit you name change over, and then light a match and toss it on the bridge behind you.

The man is completely and utterly screwed. Couldn't happen to a better guy.

[u/wedid]

Jack Smith: real gs move in silence like lasagna

[u/thatruth2483]

He presented the cold hard facts and nothing else.

This is a man that doesnt care about the spotlight.

I like what I see.

[u/walla12083 → u/thatruth2483]

And even better, he's a registered independent. Throws some cold water on him being a political hack.

[u/Ontheroadtw]

Those lawyers that quit today read the indictment and said “you’re fucked, we’re out!”

[u/McNuttyNutz]

37 counts holy fuck

[u/420ANUSTART]

Well that guy sure doesn’t seem like he fucks around.

[u/OppositeDifference]

Has anyone else with a super conservative extended family had the thought today that their Thanksgiving is going to be awkward as fuck?

[u/Henhouse808]

I want to say it was worth it to go through 2016 to now having to hear about this orange turd on a practically daily basis just to get to this day of vindication. But frankly, it wasn't.

Spending years watching Trump skull-fuck our country, and do inconceivable amounts of damage that will last for generations. Listening to the daily death tolls of COVID victims. Losing my parents to Faux News propaganda. The founding blocks of our nation stretched to breaking point. January 6th. I'm just fucking exhausted.

I never want to hear about Trump ever again. He needs to disappear.

[u/[deleted]]

Anyone remember when all of these CIA Agents starting dying ? I wonder if this is connected

https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-fbi-raid-could-some-connection-murdered-cia-assets-msnbcs-joy-reid-speculates

[u/metallipunk]

Jesus fuck. The pictures of these fucking boxes just sitting out and about like that. So fucking unbelievable.

[u/teamdiabetes11]

Jack Smith being this succinct is part of why he got these investigations. He can distill a lot of sensitive information down and provide an explanation to the public without harming the case. Dude is cold, calculating, and has massive balls. And there are other ongoing investigations. Trump is on borrowed time for his freedom.

[u/helloisforhorses → u/[deleted]]

It’s espionage. We have hanged people over espionage

[u/AcademicPublius]

"Not here to pontificate. You know the charges. If you read the document, you know why we charged. Godspeed."

[u/KatanaAmerica]

Basically said “He broke the law, and the rules of law apply to everyone.” Short but sweet.

[u/mybad4990]

I love that he made a point to say that the defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. I think it's very important to show the impartiality of the special counsel

[u/hardtobeuniqueuser]

have a bad feeling that is this plays out we are going to find out that sources of the intelligence on these documents, people, were killed. probably a lot of them.

[u/OppositeDifference]

We just saw a gentleman who has a 97% conviction rate prosecuting war criminals at The Hague say that he intends to give Donald Trump a speedy trial.

[u/Alleandros]

Sounds like a good reason to raid Bedminster and his other properties.

[u/BlackhotLoads]

WTF...

"TRUMP's boxes were for a time stacked on the ballroom's stage, as depicted in the photograph below..."

[u/BlackIronSaturn]

I have never been more proud of the IC, cause I know they definitely played a role in expressing the urgency and severity of what he did to the powers that be.

You don't want to piss off those guys. They don't see sunlight, and feed entirely off late night chilis/applebees. Their salt levels are high, and their dopamine is low.

[u/BlackhotLoads]

New Trump post: "Under the Presidential Records Act, I’m allowed to do all this."

You may be surprised, but the Presidential Records Act does not say ex-presidents can store classified papers at their resort, show them to people, and hide them from federal investigators.

https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1667252807630573576

*** Trump should really stop making public statements right now.