Trump indictment news today: Trump faces up to 100 years in jail as he declares ‘I am an innocent man’

Former president Donald Trump is likely looking at 100 years in prison if convicted on the seven charges in the classified documents case, ABC News reported, citing sources.

The charges levied against him are willful retention of national defence information, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.

Conspiracy to obstruct justice, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.

Withholding a document or record, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.

Corruptly concealing a document or record, another charge with maximum penalty of 20 years.

Concealing a document in a federal investigation, which also carries 20 years maximum as penalty.

Scheme to conceal and false statements and representations – both with five years as maximum penalty.

The former president called the federal indictment “election interference at the highest level,” and claimed the Biden administration was “the most corrupt” in history.

Mr Trump told Fox News Digital that he would “of course” plead not guilty to the charges when he appears in federal court in Miami on Tuesday afternoon.

The Republican 2024 frontrunner is charged with at least seven counts involving obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and illegal retention of classified government material.

While many Republicans in the presidential field remain hesitant to criticise Donald Trump over his various indictments, one candidate has gone so far as to say he should drop out of the Republican nominating contest.

“Donald Trump’s actions – from his willful [sic] disregard for the constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law – should not define our nation or the Republican Party,” former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson said in a statement.

“This is a sad day for our country. While Donald Trump is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the ongoing criminal proceedings will be a major distraction. This reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to respect the office and end his campaign.”

Southern Baptists form a core part of the white evangelical Christian bloc that has reliably and overwhelmingly voted Republican in recent elections, and is expected to again in 2024.

But Southern Baptists are weighing their options in the GOP presidential primary field — some already lining up behind Donald Trump, others wary of the former president, whom most evangelical voters supported in previous elections despite his vulgar language, serial marriages and sexual bravado. Some are looking at what Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or other candidates might offer.

But even critics of many Baptist voters’ embrace of hard-right politics have little doubt where this is headed in November 2024 — support for whichever candidate emerges from the GOP nomination process. The only question is the extent of the fervor they bring to the polls.

Allies of former president Donald Trump quickly came to his defence after he revealed he was facing a federal indictment related to a Department of Justice investigation into his mishandling of classified documents.

The indictment comes after a months-long investigation into whether Mr Trump knowingly kept sensitive materials at his Mar-a-Lago home and / or misled investigators looking into the matter.

On Twitter, allies of Mr Trump remained loyal to him and downplayed the severity of the indictment.

Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) claimed the indictment was a form of “election interference” on Twitter.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended his state’s decision to fly migrants from the US-Mexico border to California, arguing that the state had essentially invited the migrants with its welcoming policies toward immigrants.

“The Biden Regime, which is realising they can’t beat or cheat their way to another victory, has taken the unprecedented step to indict president Trump,” MAGA Inc spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

“This comes amid reports that the Biden family accepted $10m in illegal bribes from foreign nationals. America is a nation that has become plagued by a two-tier system of justice that must be confronted and destroyed.

“This will only be done when we re-elect President Donald J Trump in 2024.”

Donald Trump has praised the life of Christian televangelist Pat Robertson, even though he once said that the former president was living in an “alternate reality.”

“There does seem to be far higher interest in pursuing Trump compared to other people in politics,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted.

“Very important that the justice system rebut what appears to be differential enforcement or they will lose public trust.”

The former president is set to be arrested and booked before he appears in federal court in Miami on Tuesday 13 June, the day before his 76th birthday.