In a shocking revelation, an exclusive report alleges that former President Donald Trump disregarded the advice of his legal team and willingly allowed himself to be indicted by a federal grand jury due to his handling of classified documents. The Washington Post, relying on information from seven undisclosed sources, claims that one of Trump’s lawyers, Christopher Kise, had intended to secretly approach the Justice Department in an effort to negotiate a settlement with Attorney General Merrick Garland.
According to the report, Kise hoped to de-escalate the situation by offering a professional resolution and the return of all the items from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. However, Trump purportedly ignored Kise’s counsel and instead followed the guidance of Tom Fitton, chairman of the conservative group Judicial Watch, who advised him to fight to retain the records.
The Washington Post’s sources, who possess knowledge of the matter, state that Kise never pursued his proposal with prosecutors. Several months later, a special prosecutor named Jack Smith was appointed, and Trump now faces 37 federal criminal charges related to the alleged mishandling and concealment of national security material.
During his recent court appearance in Miami, Trump pleaded not guilty and expressed his intention to represent himself. When contacted by the Washington Post for comment, former Florida Solicitor General Christopher Kise chose to remain silent.
In response to the allegations, Steven Cheung, Trump’s presidential campaign spokesman, asserted that Trump had consistently complied with the Presidential Records Act, the sole applicable law governing presidents and their records. Cheung further claimed that Trump had offered assistance to the Department of Justice during discussions on the return of the records but was met with an unwarranted and unconstitutional raid on his residence.
According to anonymous insiders cited by the Washington Post, Trump declined several opportunities to avoid criminal charges and misled his own aides, downplaying the contents of the boxes in his possession as mere newspaper clippings and clothing. Despite pleas from his top advisors to return the files, Trump remained steadfast in his refusal.
Tom Fitton, who acknowledged advising the former president, revealed that he recently had dinner with Trump at his club and described him as determined and prepared to fight within the confines of the law. However, Fitton remained tight-lipped about the specifics of their conversations.
Former Chief of Staff John Kelly disclosed to the Washington Post that Trump is deeply concerned about the legal predicament he now finds himself in, noting that he appears to be experiencing fear and anxiety. Kelly emphasized that this is the first time in Trump’s life that he is facing the prospect of real consequences, as his previous attitude towards financial matters had been characterized by a dismissive approach to legal action.