Later today, former US president Donald Trump will appear in a Miami courtroom to face 31 counts of violating the Espionage Act through “wilful retention” of classified records and six counts related to his alleged effort to obstruct the investigation.
In this federal case, each count of wilful retention of records carries a maximum 10-year sentence.
The documents deal with US nuclear programmes, its vulnerabilities to military attack and plans for possible retaliation. They were kept in boxes in the former president’s Florida home, his Mar-a-Largo country club, where documents, some marked “Top Secret” were kept in the ballroom or the bathroom.
The charge sheet also alleges that Trump shared details of a highly confidential “plan of attack” – believed to be against Iran – to people who visited him at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. It maintains that on another occasion he showed a classified military map to a person who did not have a security clearance.
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Martin Wall, Irish Times Washington correspondent, is in Miami to report from the court and he outlines the background to the case and whether it might hinder – or help – him in his bid for re-election in 2024. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
