Attorneys representing former President Donald Trump held a meeting with Special Counsel Jack Smith and his team in Washington D.C. on Thursday in preparation for a potential federal indictment connected to the investigation into the events of January 6, Fox News reported.
The meeting occurred on the same day as the federal grand jury was scheduled to convene at a federal courthouse in Washington, leading to speculation that an indictment might be imminent, the outlet reported.
Last week, Trump, who is currently ahead in the 2024 GOP presidential primary field, revealed that he had received a target letter from the Justice Department, along with a request to appear before the federal grand jury.
The former president predicted an “arrest and indictment” in response to the development.
“They’re in a rush because they want to interfere. It’s interference with the election — it’s election interference,” Trump noted during a town hall on Fox News with Sean Hannity last week. “Never been done like this in the history of our country, and it is a disgrace what’s happening to our country — whether it is the borders or the elections or kinds of things like this, where the DOJ has become a weapon for the Democrats.”
“An absolute weapon,” he continued.
Smith’s investigation has been focused on whether Trump or other officials and entities were involved in any interference with the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election, specifically focusing on the events surrounding the certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021, Fox News noted.
The Democrat-controlled House drafted articles of impeachment against Trump and proceeded to vote for his impeachment on the charge of inciting an insurrection during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, making him the first and only president in history to be impeached twice. He was ultimately acquitted in both instances by the Senate.
In June, Trump was indicted based on allegations arising from Smith’s investigation into his purported improper retention of classified records after his presidency. Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 counts, which include charges of willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements.
Trump is the first former president to face federal charges after leaving office.
All said, however, a former Trump criminal defense attorney argued earlier this month that the investigation into Trump for alleged mishandling of classified documents might not even go to trial.
Timothy Parlatore — who served as a criminal defense attorney for Trump until June — spoke about Trump appearing in Miami for his arraignment in the case brought against him by Smith.
Parlatore argued he believes the case has fundamental flaws, particularly over the grand jury process and breaches of attorney-client privilege. Parlatore said he believes this could result in the entire case being thrown out.
Parlatore said Trump’s attorneys should “attack the conduct of the entire investigation and show through death by a thousand cuts why this entire investigation is irreparably tainted by government misconduct,” adding: “The case, therefore, should be dismissed or, at a minimum, the prosecutor should be disqualified.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz offered up legislation last week that, if passed, would defund the investigations into Trump by Smith.
The Florida Republican isn’t under any illusions the legislation will ever make it into law, however.
That said, according to Florida Daily, Gaetz said there is a reasonable intention behind his measure, and that is to let American voters know where their individual representatives — particularly GOP lawmakers — stand on the issue.
“Rep. Gaetz’s bill would block federal funds authorized or appropriated by federal law or any funds in any trust fund of the federal government from being used for” Smith’s probe, said a statement from Gaetz’s office.
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