First Thing: Donald Trump charged with illegal retention of classified documents
Ex-president to be prosecuted for obstruction and violating Espionage Act over documents held at Mar-a-Lago and has been summoned to court next week. Plus, the doctors helping Republicans attack trans healthcare
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Good morning.
Federal prosecutors have charged Donald Trump over his retention of national security documents and obstructing the government's efforts to retrieve them, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. It is a historic development that poses the most significant legal peril yet for the former president.
How has Trump reacted to the news? From his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, Trump lashed out at the indictment in a series of posts on Truth Social. I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States," Trump said, adding: I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!"
Could Trump go to jail? It is often tempting to hype every Trump drama out of proportion and then lose sight of when something genuinely monumental has happened. Last night's action by the justice department was genuinely monumental," writes David Smith. He really might be going to jail."
What is the Trump Mar-a-Lago case about and why is it significant? The case marks the first time the justice department has charged Trump and adds to the mounting legal troubles he faces as he seeks to return to the presidency. Here's a breakdown of where things stand.
What else did she say? ... We remain optimistic that we will prevail and that Julian will not be extradited to the United States where he faces charges that could result in him spending the rest of his life in a maximum security prison for publishing true information that revealed war crimes committed by the US government."
What did his appeal centre on? Assange's appeal argued that Patel, as home secretary, erred in her decision to approve the extradition order because the request violated the US-UK extradition treaty which states extradition shall not be granted if the offence for which extradition is requested is a political offence". His legal team has consistently maintained that the US desire to try Assange is politically motivated.
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