Trump says he's a target in Jan. 6 probe, anticipates arrest
Former President Trump speaks at the Turning Point Action conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 15. Photo: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Former President Trump said Tuesday that he received a letter from special counsel Jack Smith informing him that he is a target of the grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Why it matters: Trump's remarks on Truth Social indicate that an indictment could be forthcoming.
- It would mark the second set of federal charges against Trump, following Smith's indictment of the former president last month over his handling of classified documents.
Driving the news: Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday that he received a letter from Smith on Sunday night "stating that I am a target of the January 6th grand jury investigation, and giving me a very short 4 days to report to the grand jury, which almost always means an arrest and indictment."
What they're saying: In his first on-camera comments on the matter during a Fox News town hall in Iowa on Tuesday night, Trump railed against Smith and the Justice Department, and the investigations he's facing.
- Fox News' Sean Hannity opened the town hall by saying Trump didn't seem to be bothered by "never-ending attacks" and now the Jan. 6 probe. But the frontrunner in the 2024 Republican primary replied "it bothers me," before calling the matter a "disgrace."
- "I didn't know practically what a subpoena was and grand juries and all of this," Trump said at the event in Cedar Rapids. "Now, I'm like becoming an expert. I have no choice."
- A spokesperson for the special counsel's office declined to comment earlier Tuesday on Trump's remarks regarding the probe.
Zoom out: The nature of any potential new charges against Trump is unclear.
- Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped Smith last year to lead the Justice Department's probe into Trump's efforts to interfere with the lawful transfer of power after the 2020 election.
The big picture: Trump was indicted last month on charges related to his handling of classified documents after he left the White House.
- Trump has denied wrongdoing in both the classified documents and Jan. 6 probes.
- He pleaded not guilty to all charges in the classified documents case.
Go deeper: Jack Smith's Washington
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.