Trump and Allies Amp Up Attacks on Criminal Case as Landmark Court Appearance Looms

Donald Trump and his allies are intensifying their efforts to undermine the criminal case against him and rally support ahead of his unprecedented federal court appearance. The former president faces dozens of felony charges, accused of illegally hoarding classified information, a conduct that prosecutors argue jeopardized national security. Unlike the previous New York case, widely criticized for its perceived insignificance, this first-ever prosecution of a former president carries Espionage Act charges, which could result in a substantial prison sentence upon conviction.

In anticipation of his arraignment, Trump has escalated his verbal assault on the Justice Department’s special counsel, Jack Smith, labelling him as “deranged,” and referring to the team of prosecutors as “thugs.” Without presenting any evidence, he continues to assert that he is the target of political persecution.

In a recent interview on WABC Radio with his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, Trump called on his supporters to participate in a planned peaceful protest at the Miami courthouse on Tuesday, where his arraignment will take place. He urged them to demonstrate for the strength of the country, claiming that everything has been lost.

Additionally, Trump stated unequivocally that there are no circumstances under which he would withdraw from the 2024 race, asserting his dominance in the Republican primary thus far.

Other Trump loyalists have echoed his rhetoric, including Kari Lake, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor in Arizona. Lake boldly declared that anyone seeking to get to President Trump would have to go through her and the 75 million Americans who support him, many of whom are NRA members.

Trump’s call for protests mirrors his previous exhortations prior to his court appearance in New York last April, where he faced charges related to hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign. However, he expressed disappointment that the protesters at that time were too distant and went unnoticed. Similar to that case, Trump plans to address his supporters in a speech on Tuesday evening, following his court date.

On Monday, Trump is expected to travel to Miami, where he will spend the day in Florida consulting with advisers. After his court appearance, he will return to New Jersey for a press event to publicly address the charges against him.

Trump supporters from various parts of Florida are organizing bus trips to Miami, raising concerns among law enforcement officials who are preparing for potential unrest near the courthouse. Although Mayor Francis Suarez is expected to provide additional details regarding security measures, as of Sunday afternoon, there was minimal police presence, and barricades had not yet been erected. This stands in stark contrast to the proactive planning by New York City police, despite no violence ultimately occurring.

The Justice Department unsealed an indictment on Friday, consisting of 37 felony counts against Trump. The charges include 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information, as well as conspiracy to commit obstruction and false statements.

According to the indictment, Trump deliberately retained hundreds of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving the White House in January 2021. These materials were stored in various locations, including a bathroom, ballroom, bedroom, and shower. The documents encompassed sensitive information concerning nuclear programs, defense and weapons capabilities of the United States and foreign governments, and even a Pentagon “attack plan.” Prosecutors argue that exposing this information could have endangered military personnel, confidential sources, and intelligence collection methods.

Furthermore, the indictment alleges that Trump actively obstructed government efforts to recover the documents. He directed his personal aide, Walt Nauta, who is also facing charges, to move boxes to conceal the classified materials. Additionally, he suggested to his lawyer that he should hide or destroy the documents sought by a Justice Department subpoena.

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