According to a Democratic attorney, there’s a possibility that former President Donald Trump may face a lengthy prison term if he is found guilty in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. The charges, filed in June 2023, accuse Trump of holding onto national security information, which involves U.S. nuclear secrets and strategies for military response in case of an attack.
Additionally, he is alleged to have obstructed the government’s attempts to recover these classified documents. The legal outcome remains uncertain, but if convicted, it could have significant implications for Trump’s future.
Prosecutors allege that Trump unlawfully retained documents post his White House departure in January 2021 and resisted authorities’ requests for their return. Trump, denying any wrongdoing, has pleaded not guilty. Democratic attorney Marc Elias, discussing the potential impact on MSNBC’s The Weekend, emphasized the gravity of the Florida case, stating it could be “devastating” for the ex-president, possibly leading to a lengthy prison term.
Elias highlighted the severity of the accusations, emphasizing that it involves a former U.S. president mishandling highly classified government documents, exposing them recklessly, and sharing them indiscreetly.
The impact on him politically is profound. Legally, it’s a devastating blow and significantly raises the likelihood of a lengthy prison sentence.
Newsweek has reached out to a representative of Trump via email for their response.
Elias shared his perspective following special counsel Jack Smith’s actions. Smith, prosecuting the case, filed a 67-page document on Friday rejecting the motion for additional discovery from Trump and his co-defendants, Walt Nauta, and Carlos de Oliveira.
On Friday, ABC News reported claims suggesting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) overlooked two crucial areas during the August 2022 raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. Citing anonymous sources, the outlet stated that Smith’s team has been questioning multiple witnesses about an unexamined locked closet and a concealed room inside Mar-a-Lago.
As of now, Newsweek has been unable to independently verify this information and reached out to the FBI for comment via email on Friday.
The trial for the classified documents case is scheduled to commence on May 20, but potential appeals based on Trump’s arguments regarding disclosure could introduce delays. Notably, Trump, currently a leading contender for the 2024 Republican nomination, may, if successful in the November election, consider seeking the dismissal of charges in his ongoing legal cases.