Timeline of Donald Trump classified documents probe, from White House to Mar-a-Lago
Donald Trump has been indicted for his handling of classified documents – becoming the first former US president to face federal charges.
He will face seven criminal counts, reportedly including unauthorised retention of classified files, at a court in Miami next week. Mr Trump’s lawyer James Trusty told US broadcaster CNN on Thursday that the indictment includes charges of wilful retention of national defence information, obstruction of justice, false statements and conspiracy.
On his Truth Social app, the former president called it “a Dark Day for the United States of America” and in a video post said: “I’m innocent and we will prove that very, very soundly and hopefully very quickly.” Here is the sequence of events leading up to the charges:
What triggered an investigation?
2021
January:
Mr Trump leaves the White House after being defeated by Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election. With his wife Melania, he heads to his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. At this point, he is no longer able to declassify documents.
May:
The US National Archives and Records Administration, which preserves government documents, contacts the ex-president’s team notifying them some high-profile documents are missing. A number of approaches are made in subsequent months.
December:
The National Archives requests the documents from Mr Trump and in late December a representative of the former president informs the agency that 12 boxes of records which should have been handed over have been found and are ready to be retrieved.
2022
January:
The National Archives collects 15 boxes of material from Mar-a-Lago including some alleged classified material. It says it “identified items marked as classified national security information, up to the level of Top Secret and including Sensitive Compartmented Information and Special Access Programme materials”.
When did it become a formal process?
2022
February:
The National Archives issues a statement saying it is searching for more of Mr Trump’s presidential records. The matter is referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the US House of Representatives oversight committee announces an investigation into his handling of the documents.
May:
The DOJ issues a subpoena for additional records they believe to be in his Florida home.
June:
A lawyer for Mr Trump contacts the DOJ and says it can visit Mar-a-Lago and collect classified documents related to the subpoena. FBI agents and a DOJ attorney visit and collect a file containing 38 records with classification markings, including five papers marked confidential, 16 marked secret, and 17 marked top secret.
August:
Mr Trump reveals FBI agents have searched Mar-a-Lago and broken into a safe in what one of his sons said was part of a federal investigation into retention of records. A court-approved warrant is released showing 11 sets of classified documents were taken from the ex-president’s property, and stating the DOJ has probable cause to believe there were possible violations of the Espionage Act. Mr Trump sues to block the DOJ from reviewing materials seized from his home until a “special master” is assigned to make sure privileged documents are not improperly accessed.
The DOJ releases a heavily redacted affidavit behind the warrant for the search of Mr Trump’s property, disclosing it believes the former president had possessed documents illegally, including some involving intelligence-gathering and clandestine human sources.
September:
The FBI reveals in court papers that it recovered more than 11,000 government documents and photographs during the August search of Mar-a-Largo, as well as 48 empty folders labelled “classified”. Aileen Cannon, US District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, grants Mr Trump’s request for a special master, delaying the investigation. Senior US District Judge Raymond Dearie of Brooklyn is later named to run the third-party review. Judge Cannon rejects a bid by the DOJ to gain access to the seized classified material, but the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals later allows it.
November:
Mr Trump announces he is running for US president in 2024. Days later, US attorney general Merrick Garland announces former prosecutor Jack Smith has been appointed special counsel to oversee the investigation into Mr Trump’s handling of classified documents.
What has happened since Jack Smith’s appointment?
2022
December:
A federal appeals court reverses Judge Cannon’s appointment of a special master, giving the DOJ access to materials seized in the search. At least two classified records are reported to have been found during a further search of Mr Trump’s properties. His lawyer Tim Parlatore appears before a federal grand jury in Washington to describe efforts to search the properties for any remaining government documents.
2023
March:
National Archives chief operating officer William Bosanko tells Congress that every presidential administration since Ronald Reagan has mishandled classified documents. Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran appears before a federal grand jury in Washington and more than 20 people, from Mar-a-Lago resort staff to members of Mr Trump’s inner circle, are subpoenaed to testify.
May: Mr Parlatore confirms he has left the Trump legal team, later telling CNN he departed over disagreements with others over handling of the probe, claiming Trump aide Boris Epshteyn prevented attorneys from properly defending the former president. A Trump spokesperson denies the claims.
8 June:
Donald Trump says on social media platform Truth Social that the Biden administration had informed his attorneys he has been indicted and will be summoned to appear at the federal courthouse in Miami on 13 June. He has denied any wrongdoing.
