Trump special counsel shifts focus of possible indictment to S. Florida

[BumRushDaShow]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Yonnie3 (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Last edited Wed Jun 7, 2023, 06:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Washington Post

Justice Department prosecutors are planning to bring a significant portion of any charges stemming from the possible mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, the home of former president Donald Trump, at a nearby federal court in South Florida, according to people familiar with the matter.

The legal rationale for such a move is that the bulk of the conduct at issue in the investigation occurred in the southern district of Florida, in and around Trump’s Palm Beach residence and private club, even if much of the investigation — led by special counsel Jack Smith — has been handled by a grand jury in D.C., these people said.

That approach by prosecutors does not rule out the possibility of some charges, such as perjury or false statements, being filed in Washington in connection with grand jury appearances or law enforcement interviews that took place there, according to these people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the internal discussions.

A former aide to Trump, Taylor Budowich, appeared Wednesday before the federal grand jury in Miami. Other witnesses have appeared before the same grand jury in recent weeks, a person familiar with the matter said. If Trump is charged on his home turf, he could face a significantly different jury pool than the one in Washington. Such a move could also speed up the path to a trial, former federal prosecutor Randall D. Eliason said, because it could eliminate potential legal challenges about whether charges were being brought in the right place.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/06/06/miami-grand-jury-trump-classified-documents/

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Article updated.

Original headline -

If Trump documents probe leads to charges, bulk of indictment would be in S. Florida

[dem4decades]

1. Oh good, a Trump friendly district. Well done DOJ, Trump's off the hook.

[leftieNanner]

2. Not necessarily

Several Florida DUers have mentioned that it is a fairly blue part of the state

[Beastly Boy]

6. WTF? Did anyone expect DOJ to file in Albuquerque, New Mexico?

And WTF does a "Trump friendly district" mean anyway? Is the Southern District of Florida, where most of the state's Democratic votes come from, Trump friendly?

I was waiting for the whole of, maybe, over twenty minutes to hear again how it, whatever the "it" may be at any given moment, is DOJ's fault! About time someone dragged it out of the bag again.

[dem4decades]

8. How about Washington DC? Aileen Cannon ring a bell?

[Alexander Of Assyria]

3. Don't agree. All prosecution in D.C., where the espionage plan was hatched and documents taken.

All espionage related charges, including showing the shit to enemies and cult admirers alike occurring in Florida is irrelevant.

Copying and distributing for profit and fun the documents stolen in DC is conduct that could not have occurred if not for the theft in DC..it’s a continuation of a crime across state lines.. a federal indictment would cover all that conduct.

Obstruction of Justice conduct did occur, actively, all in Florida, but again the documents were stolen in D.C….no obstruction without the theft. Continuation of crime.

I want the crime to be where it all actually began..where the continuation of the crime happened is not convincing to me to create a jurisdiction elsewhere than DC…where all presidents reside.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. "Obstruction of Justice conduct did occur, actively, all in Florida"

And THAT is why there is a FL grand jury and there would be charges associated with that, done in FL.

[FakeNoose]

4. I'm OK with that - no pardons from the FL Governor will be forthcoming

These will be federal courts and judges. I'm OK with that. Future indictments and trials will take place in other states and districts. For now we're focusing on Miami. We need to relax and trust the system.

[Beastly Boy]

7. Thanks, Smith!

Thanks, DOJ!

Thanks, Garland!

[Yonnie3]

9. Locking after an alert and discussion by the hosts

This story is anticipatory and is mainly analysis.

It is much better suited for Editorials and Other articles or General Discussion.