Former President Donald Trump was indicted for hoarding dozens of secret documents at his Florida club and refusing to provide them to the FBI and National Archives.
A source familiar with the accusations said he faces seven counts, including deliberate retention of national defense information, false statements, and obstruction. Miami federal grand jury charging materials are not public.
"I never thought such a thing could happen to the former leader of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and conservative, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election. I'm innocent!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump stated that he was summons to Miami federal court on Tuesday.
Trump's lawyers met with Justice Department officials in Washington, D.C., earlier this week to avoid charges as the probe progressed.
DOJ special counsel Jack Smith's spokesman declined comment. Smith, an experienced public corruption and war crimes prosecutor, is leading the investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attempt to invalidate a presidential election.
A Manhattan grand jury indicted him on 34 counts of fabricating business records earlier this year. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the accounting case involving hush money payments to Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump has confirmed reimbursing Cohen for money given to Stephanie Clifford Daniels, although he denies having an affair with her.
Despite the criminal indictments, the former president plans to run again in 2024. After being charged in New York this year, Trump received millions in donations. He leads a narrow Republican primary field.
In August 2022, FBI investigators searched Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida while he was away, bringing the dispute over records to light. The former president tweeted about the search, sparking a weeks-long court battle in Florida and D.C.
Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters he personally authorized the search. After reviewing an FBI sworn declaration, a federal magistrate court approved the search warrant.