The target letter cites three statutes that Trump could be charged with: pertaining to deprivation of rights; conspiracy to commit an offense against or defraud the United States; and tampering with a witness, according to multiple news outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, which cited a person familiar with the matter. The Justice Department has been known in the investigation to be examining possible violations of the law around conspiracy and obstruction of the congressional proceeding on January 6, which is part of the witness tampering law, previously reported following a Justice Department search of a Trump administration adviser’s home. If Smith indicts Trump in the January 6 case, it would mark the third time that Trump has been criminally charged this year, and the second time by the special counsel. The Manhattan district attorney indicted Trump in March on charges of falsifying business records, and Smith charged Trump last month over the mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Trump has pleaded not guilty in both cases. Trump denounced the special counsel on Tuesday as he revealed the target letter. At a Fox News town hall in Iowa Tuesday evening, Trump claimed that the election probe amounts to “election interference” and called it a “disgrace.” Video Ad Feedback Trump speaks out for first time since revealing he’s a target in the special counsel’s probe 00:54 – Source: Trump’s legal team has not formally responded to the invitation to testify before the grand jury, which the letter provides, but it is largely expected that Trump will decline to do so. It is unclear whether Trump’s legal team has responded to the invitation to testify before the grand jury, which the letter provides, but it is largely expected that Trump will decline to do so. The letter caught Trump’s team off guard, according to sources, as Trump’s advisers had not been anticipating Smith could bring charges this month – or against Trump himself. So far, Trump’s team has not identified anyone else who received a target letter, according to sources. The grand jury is continuing to hear from witnesses, and a close Trump adviser, Will Russell, is expected to appear on Thursday. Russell, a White House aide who has continued to work for Trump after he left office, has already testified to the grand jury at least twice before. He is expected to appear before the grand jury at least twice before. A spokesman for the special counsel declined to comment. Trump’s legal team has tried to keep close tabs on investigation. The former president’s political action committee has underwritten legal costs for multiple witnesses, which has given them some insight into what has been shared Trump’s legal team has tried to keep close tabs on investigation. The
The Justice Department is seeking to learn whether special counsel Robert Mueller has evidence or witnesses that the Trump administration doesn’t know about, a person familiar with the matter said.
