Former President Donald Trump lauded his legal team's meeting with special counsel Jack Smith, highlighting its significance amid a looming federal indictment. In a post on his Truth Social page, Mr. Trump conveyed that the session was productive, as his attorneys engaged with Justice Department prosecutors in Washington. This gathering took place in the context of an ongoing grand jury assessment regarding an indictment against Mr. Trump, pertaining to his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot and attempts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Trump emphasized, "My attorneys had a detailed meeting with the DOJ this morning, methodically explaining that I committed no wrongdoing, received counsel from numerous legal experts, and warning that proceeding with an indictment would only further jeopardize our nation's well-being. Notably, no indication of notice or forthcoming action was provided during the course of this meeting. Trust not the falsehoods peddled by the Fake News on any matter!"
Coinciding with the grand jury's session, NBC News reported that the former president's legal representatives were advised to anticipate an imminent indictment. Trump previously faced a 37-count indictment last month, relating to the handling of classified documents in an unrelated probe led by Jack Smith. Traversing various legal proceedings, he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Last week, Mr. Trump disclosed that the Justice Department identified him as a target in the 2020 election investigation, which primarily focuses on his endeavors to contest President Biden's victory and the events surrounding the January 6th Capitol violence.
All the while, the meeting in question transpired on the same day that a federal grand jury convened at a Washington federal courthouse to carry forward with their inquiry into Mr. Trump's actions aimed at reversing the outcome of the 2020 election, in tandem with the occurrences encompassing the January 6th insurrection. Scheduled to meet every Tuesday and Thursday, the jurors had not convened for over a week, generating speculation that an indictment against the former president might be forthcoming.
In light of these developments, Mr. Trump's social media statement alluded to a potential defense strategy in the event of an indictment — the premise that he acted based on the advice and guidance of his legal team. Such an argument would enable him to assert that his conduct was in accordance with legal advice received, potentially immunizing him from prosecution if their advice was later deemed unlawful or flawed.