FLASH
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The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, for illegally keeping classified government documents at Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House in 2021, as well as for obstruction of justice. Here's a look at the next steps.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Former President Trump, who pleaded not guilty on Thursday, is expected to make his first appearance in federal court in Florida on Tuesday. It is not certain whether the indictments will be made public by then.
Shortly after Mr. Trump appears in court, prosecutors will begin handing over evidence to his lawyers. They could include correspondence between Mr. Trump's lawyers, the National Archives and federal prosecutors as they communicated about handing over the documents.
At some point in the process, former President Trump's lawyers are expected to file a motion to dismiss the case on a number of grounds, including his claim that he declassified the documents before receiving them.
They are also likely to argue that the case should be dismissed because of what they say are violations by prosecutors, including those of a legal doctrine that allows people to keep communications with their attorneys private.
Motions to dismiss criminal cases are common but rarely successful, as defendants must convince a judge that their case is so flawed that it doesn't deserve to go before a jury.
WHAT IMPACT WILL THE ISSUE HAVE ON TRUMP'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN?
The charges include violating the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice, making false statements to investigators and conspiracy, according to ABC television. Neither of these automatically bars Mr. Trump from campaigning and, even if convicted, from serving as president if elected.
It is unclear what impact the issue will have on voter support for Mr. Trump. The former president's approval rating rose after he was indicted in another case in New York in April, and he remains the front-runner among Republicans.
He has used the issues and investigations he faces as fundraising tools, telling supporters he is under attack and needs their help.
Officials with his campaign team said in April that contributions increased after he was indicted in New York.
WHEN DOES THE CASE GO TO TRIAL?
It could be months before a possible trial begins.
Former President Trump, who has denied wrongdoing and calls the lawsuit a politically motivated "witch hunt," has the right to go to trial within 100 days, but that rarely happens in complex cases.
The parties will likely agree to extend the deadlines while they review the evidence and present legal arguments to the judge.
WILL MR TRUMP TESTIFY?
It will depend on him. Criminal defendants are not required to testify, and they rarely do so, because being questioned by prosecutors poses a risk to them.
Mr. Trump did not testify in a recent lawsuit over allegations of sexual abuse and defamation brought against him by author E. Jean Carroll.
The jury found her guilty and ordered the former president to pay her $5 million in damages for sexual abuse and defamation.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ISSUE IF MR TRUMP WINS THE ELECTION?
The prosecution is unlikely to pursue the case if Mr Trump wins the 2024 presidential election. The
US Justice Department is part of the executive branch, and presidents are the nation's top federal law enforcement officials.
It is generally up to them whether federal prosecutors serve in the Department of Justice.
For decades, this Department has followed a policy according to which a sitting president cannot be prosecuted. The department can drop the case in "extraordinary circumstances" with the authorization of the US attorney general.
Merrick Garland, the Attorney General currently serving under President Joe Biden, may still be in office if former President Trump wins the election and until he nominates someone else and Mr. Garland may decide to continue the trial, but Mr. Trump , as president, has the right to dismiss him and appoint an acting attorney general until the Senate confirms his nominee for the post. / VOA
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