Donald Trump’s legal and political teams are preparing for the possibility that a federal grand jury will vote imminently on charges against the former president, according to three sources familiar with the thinking of his inner circle.
Trump attorneys Todd Blanche and John Lauro were meeting in Washington with prosecutors from special counsel Jack Smith's office Thursday morning, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the situation. Members of the grand jury hearing evidence in the case were seen arriving at the federal courthouse earlier in the morning.
Follow along for live updates on the Trump 2020 election investigation.
Trump called the meeting "productive" in a post on his social media website Truth Social.
"My attorneys had a productive meeting with the DOJ this morning, explaining in detail that I did nothing wrong, was advised by many lawyers, and that an Indictment of me would only further destroy our Country," he wrote. "No indication of notice was given during the meeting — Do not trust the Fake News on anything!"
Smith has been investigating potential interference in the 2020 election and attempts to interrupt the peaceful transition of power, including during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of pro-Trump supporters, as well as other matters, such as Trump’s handling of classified documents.
Trump said on July 18 on his social media platform that he was notified that he is a target in the investigation.
The target letter mentioned three federal statutes related to the deprivation of rights, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and tampering with a witness, two attorneys with direct knowledge of the document have said.
But whether Trump will be indicted — and, if he is, on what counts — remains unknown.
A federal grand jury in Florida last month indicted Trump on criminal charges related to classified documents that were kept at his Florida home.
Trump, who is running for president again, has pleaded not guilty in that case. Another person indicted in that case, Trump aide Walt Nauta, has also pleaded not guilty.
Trump has also pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a New York state case. That case is different from Smith’s federal investigations. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought that case, and a grand jury indicted the former president.
Trump, in announcing that he was informed he is a target in the Jan. 6 probe, called it a “witch hunt.”
