More charges leveled in Trump classified documents case

Special counsel Jack Smith has filed another indictment related to alleged mishandling of classified information at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Smith and his team have charged a co-conspirator with attempting to obstruct justice and added another count against Trump of willfully retaining classified information. Trump’s attorneys on Thursday met with Smith’s team. Trump confirmed the meeting took place and said his lawyers denied any wrongdoing on his part.

Why did the meeting take place? Smith notified Trump earlier this month that he was the target of a federal criminal investigation related to the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Trump claimed that such a notification almost always preceded an indictment. The former president added that “no indication of notice was given during the meeting” with his lawyers on Thursday.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report in The Stew about Trump and other Republicans’ efforts to rally support in South Carolina.