By: Iris Xu

Federal Prosecutor Jack Smith’s investigation into Donald Trump’s handling of confidential documents from his time as president has led to Trump’s indictment on 37 counts, including 31 counts of violating the Espionage Act.

The espionage act is a U.S. federal law that criminalizes the mishandling of sensitive government records that are related to national defense.

The 49-page indictment was sent out Friday by the Department of Justice. The indictment accuses Trump of taking and storing classified documents at his estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

The accusation includes various photos of boxes in various places within Trump’s estate, including a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, his office, a bedroom, and a storage room.

The classified documents found in Trump’s estate include information on foreign nuclear capabilities, U.S. nuclear programs, and the potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. The documents also included details of allies during military attacks and plans for possible retaliation in the event of an attack.

Trump is accused of willfully holding onto material about national defense, conspiring to restrain justice, and withholding documents and records. He is also accused of falsely hiding documents from a federal inquiry, planning to hide information, and making false claims and representations.

Jack Smith, the special counsel for the United States’ Department of Justice, said to, “Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced. We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, Trump shared classified information with people who did not have security clearances. A CNN report reveals the existence of a recording in which Trump shows an understanding that he cannot declassify documents and records after becoming president. Trump also acknowledged that he possesses a classified record.

Before Trump’s lawyer, Evan Corcoran, could review the taken documents and records, Trump ordered his personal aide, Waltine Nauta, to move 64 boxes from the Mar-a-Lago storage room into Trump’s home. This was ordered so that Trump could go through the contents. Nauta only returned 30 of the boxes back to the Mar-a-Lago storage room. The other 34 boxes were hidden from Corcoran. Only returning some of the boxes shows that Trump was not being honest, and not doing the right thing.

Nauta was charged along with Trump for conspiracy to obstruct justice, hiding documents and records, corruptly concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal, and making false statements and representations.

Although there was proof of Trump committing the Espionage Act, he still repeatedly denies any wrongdoing, claiming that he is innocent.

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