Former President Donald Trump Facing “Devastating” Federal Charges for Handling of Classified Documents

Former President Donald Trump is facing federal charges for his handling of classified documents, a situation that has been described as “damning” and “devastating” by former Attorney General William Barr and former National Security Adviser John Bolton, respectively. The charges are the first of their kind for a former president and are considered to be more serious than the earlier ones around hush money payments before the 2016 election.

The indictment alleges that Trump hoarded boxes of classified documents in a bathroom at his Florida estate and showed some of them off to guests. He is accused of violating a section of the Espionage Act, making false statements and engaging in a conspiracy to obstruct justice after he refused to hand over the documents pertaining to America’s national secrets.

In response to the charges, Republican lawmakers are finding novel ways to defend Trump. An operative in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ orbit, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, said that “from an objective standpoint,” the charges are far more serious than the earlier ones.

The operative also commented on the ongoing investigation into possible election interference by Trump and his allies in Georgia, saying, “I don’t know what’s going to happen in Georgia.” It’s long been Republican orthodoxy that no matter what Donald Trump does, the GOP base will stick with him.

The charges against Trump are a historic moment for the United States and will likely have a lasting impact on the political landscape. It remains to be seen how the investigation in Georgia will play out and whether Trump will be able to escape the charges he is facing.