Read the Trump Federal Indictment “to understand the scope and the gravity of the crimes charged.”

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On Friday, June 9, 2023, Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith held a press conference without taking questions and delivered the following statement on the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump:

“Good afternoon. Today, an indictment was unsealed charging Donald J. Trump with felony violations of our national security laws as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice.

This indictment was voted by a grand jury of citizens in the Southern District of Florida, and I invite everyone to read it in full to understand the scope and the gravity of the crimes charged.

The men and women of the United States intelligence community and our armed forces dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and its people. Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced. Violations of those laws put our country at risk.

Adherence to the rule of law is a bedrock principle of the Department of Justice. And our nation’s commitment to the rule of law sets an example for the world. We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone. Applying those laws. Collecting facts. That’s what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more. Nothing less.

The prosecutors in my office are among the most talented and experienced in the Department of Justice. They have investigated this case hewing to the highest ethical standards. And they will continue to do so as this case proceeds.

It’s very important for me to note that the defendants in this case must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. To that end, my office will seek a speedy trial in this matter. Consistent with the public interest and the rights of the accused. We very much look forward to presenting our case to a jury of citizens in the Southern District of Florida.

In conclusion. I would like to thank the dedicated public servants of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with whom my office is conducting this investigation and who worked tirelessly every day upholding the rule of law in our country. I’m deeply proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. Thank you very much.”   

https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/special-counsel-jack-smith-delivers-statement

On Friday, June 9 the Department of Justice released the unsealed federal indictment of former President Donald Trump.  It it is 37 felony count indictment alleging in no uncertain terms and presents evidence of Trumps mishandling of classified, sensitive  documents relating to the country’s nuclear defense, obstructing justice and making false statements.  Former Trump aide Walt Nauta is also  charged  in the indictment. He was seen removing boxes at Mar-a-Lago on a surveillance camera.

The link to read the entire indictment is here:

https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2023/06/trump-indictment.pdf

 COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Anyone who has any concern for our democracy, needs to read the indictment “to understand the scope and the gravity of the crimes charged.” What is  truly shocking is the breath taking and overwhelming amount  of the evidence presented against Trump in the indictment itself, including photo graphs and Trump’s own words saying he knew he had classified documents and he knew that he could not declassify them now that he was not President but he shared them with others who did not have clearance. Trump went so far as to tell his own lawyers to lie and conceal the documents.   What is truly disgusting is the extent the Republican Party and its leadership continues to support Trump refusing to accept t he is a danger to our national security.  Republicans went to his defense even before the indictment was released. He is  a traitor to this country and our democracy.

Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith was right to say that Trump is “presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. To that end, my office will seek a speedy trial in this matter.”  Its not an issue of being guilty beyond a reasonable doubt which must happen at trial. What the indictment represents is is guilt by “clear and convincing evidence” that  fascist Trump is a danger to our national security and should never be president again.

Trump was arraigned on the charges on Tuesday, June 13.  Under the constitution he is entitled to a speedy trial. Special Counsel Jack Smith should ask the judge to schedule his  trial on the merits within 4 to 6 months.  The sooner Trump is tried, convicted and sentence to jail for the crimes he has committed, the better.  It will show that no one is above the law and Trump will finally be brought to justice.

 

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About

Pete Dinelli was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is of Italian and Hispanic descent. He is a 1970 graduate of Del Norte High School, a 1974 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a 1977 graduate of St. Mary's School of Law, San Antonio, Texas. Pete has a 40 year history of community involvement and service as an elected and appointed official and as a practicing attorney in Albuquerque. Pete and his wife Betty Case Dinelli have been married since 1984 and they have two adult sons, Mark, who is an attorney and George, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Pete has been a licensed New Mexico attorney since 1978. Pete has over 27 years of municipal and state government service. Pete’s service to Albuquerque has been extensive. He has been an elected Albuquerque City Councilor, serving as Vice President. He has served as a Worker’s Compensation Judge with Statewide jurisdiction. Pete has been a prosecutor for 15 years and has served as a Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney and as a Deputy City Attorney. For eight years, Pete was employed with the City of Albuquerque both as a Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer overseeing the city departments of police, fire, 911 emergency call center and the emergency operations center. While with the City of Albuquerque Legal Department, Pete served as Director of the Safe City Strike Force and Interim Director of the 911 Emergency Operations Center. Pete’s community involvement includes being a past President of the Albuquerque Kiwanis Club, past President of the Our Lady of Fatima School Board, and Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.