Former President Donald Trump traveled from Newark, New Jersey, to Miami, Florida, on Monday to face a federal court appearance. Photographs captured Trump leaving his vehicle and boarding his private aircraft. He is facing a 37-count indictment, encompassing charges such as retaining national defense documents and providing false statements. Law enforcement agencies are preparing for possible demonstrations in Miami and at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
This marks Trump's second journey this year between the Northeast and Florida for a court appearance related to criminal charges. His previous trip was to New York City in April for an arraignment on separate charges.
The current charges against Trump include 31 counts of deliberately retaining national defense information, three counts of withholding or concealing documents in a federal investigation, two counts of making false statements, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Trump's court appearance is scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday in a Miami federal courthouse. He maintains that these charges constitute a politically motivated attack, a claim he has consistently made regarding various investigations into his conduct. Before departing, Trump posted on social media, expressing his hope that the nation is observing the actions of the "radical left."
Special Counsel Jack Smith's indictment alleges, among other things, that Trump displayed classified documents to unauthorized individuals on two occasions in 2021 – once at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in July, and again in August or September. The indictment details an instance where Trump allegedly shared a classified "plan of attack" with a writer, publisher, and two staff members, none of whom held security clearances, emphasizing the document's confidential nature.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr, once an ally of Trump, has described the indictment as significantly damaging to the former president.
