Trump's Lawyers Meet with DOJ for Nearly Two Hours
Former Pres. Trump’s lawyers met with officials from the US DOJ amid growing speculation about a potential indictment as special counsel Jack Smith wraps up his investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Facts
- Former Pres. Trump’s lawyers met with officials from the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) Monday morning amid growing speculation about a potential indictment as special counsel Jack Smith wraps up his investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.1
- Lawyers John Rowley, James Trusty, and Lindsey Halligan met with DOJ officials for nearly two hours in Washington, DC. Trump’s team reportedly likely raised concerns about how the DOJ has approached attorney-client matters during the investigations.2
- Neither Attorney General Merrick Garland nor Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco attended the meeting. Trump’s campaign spokesman has not yet responded for comment, while a DOJ spokesperson declined to provide any information on the meeting.3
- Two weeks ago, Trump’s lawyers requested a meeting with Garland to raise their concerns about alleged misconduct and overreach by Smith. Trump has repeatedly complained about how his investigation is being handled compared to those of political rivals Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.4
- Just moments after the meeting ended, Trump posted to Truth Social asking how the DOJ could charge him while never charging any other presidents. Some speculate the meeting could mark the end of the investigation that started last year.5
- The grand jury investigating Trump’s handling of classified documents — which culminated in a raid on his Mar-a-Lago property last August — is slated to convene this week.6
Sources: 1CNBC, 2CBS, 3CNN, 4Associated Press, 5NBC, and 6The Hill.
Narratives
- Anti-Trump narrative, as provided by Salon. Donald Trump is in big trouble, and he knows it, which is why he had yet another meltdown on Truth Social. Trump loves to play the victim and rile up his supporters to commit violence on his behalf. This immature and illegal behavior is why Trump is under investigation in the first place, and why he will be indicted. Hopefully, Smith will end Trump’s malfeasance for good.
- Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Red State. The establishment — including the Biden admin, institutions, media, and "RINO" Republicans — is relentless in its quest to stop Trump and his America First movement. Trump and his supporters know that these politically motivated charges will never end, which is why calling the swamp out is so important. Smith’s probe, just like the Russiagate witch hunt, is purely theatrical out of fear that Trump will win the 2024 election.
