The Department of Justice on Friday unsealed the federal indictment against former President Trump on chargesrelated to the investigation into his handling of classified documents after he left the White House.
Why it matters: The Department of Justice says the boxes, stored everywhere from a shower to a business center, held hundreds of classified documents that, if exposed, could threaten U.S. national security, foreign relations, and the safety of the military.
The House GOP's structural problems are colliding all at once, with rank-and-file Republicans bewildered on how things will get back to normal.
Why it matters: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has a long list of must-pass priorities ahead of Sept. 30 that will require him to navigate tensions between the different factions of his conference.
The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee on Friday doubled down on its request for the Justice Department to provide documents about the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lag0 last year.
Why it matters: The request came as a judge unsealed a 37-count federal indictment of former President Trump over his alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Florida resort.
"We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone," special counsel Jack Smith said on Friday in his first public remarks following the indictment of former President Trump.
Driving the news: Smith has been leading the Department of Justice's investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents after he left the White House.
Walt Nauta, an aide to former President Trump, has been indicted in the investigation into his handling of classified documents, according to the 49-page indictment unsealed on Friday.
Driving the news: Nauta worked in the Trump White House and at Mar-a-Lago, where one of his jobs was to transport cardboard boxes with papers of the former president, according to the indictment.
For now, most of them aren't taking the risk, and instead are criticizing the Justice Department.
Why it matters: It's another sign of how Trump's constant bashing of U.S. institutions — in this case, the Justice Department — has shaped opinions within the GOP to the point that even most of the Republicans running against him are singing the same tune.
The reported federal indictment of former President Trump is once again casting a light on the gulf between House and Senate Republicans, with GOP senators proving far more willing to break with the ex-president.
Zoom in: Some senators are even praising the Justice Department or seizing on the indictment to boost Trump's primary opponents.
Why it matters: The decision denies Senate Republicans a top recruit in what they see as one of their best opportunities of the cycle to pick up a seat in the closely divided chamber.
Why it matters: The Justice Department's reported charges, over Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents, are widely seen as the most likely to ensnare the ex-president.
