In the investigation into former President Donald J. Trump’s classified documents, a new federal grand jury has been impaneled in Florida, adding a surprising twist to the case.
The grand jury in Florida operates separately from Washington, D.C., which has been the focus of prosecutors accused of mishandling classified documents and obstructing recovery efforts since Trump left office. Looking at The New York Times. More than 20 members of Trump’s Secret Service security detail have already testified or been arraigned by a Washington grand jury.
Although a Washington grand jury recently stopped hearing testimony from witnesses, a Florida grand jury, sitting in federal district court in Miami, began hearing evidence last month. Only a few witnesses have testified or are scheduled to appear before a Florida grand jury. The reasons for Florida’s grand jury termination remain unclear, as the secrecy surrounding the grand jury has hindered public understanding of the overall strategy used by special counsel Jack Smith.
Legal experts and people familiar with the inquiry believe there could be several reasons for using a grand jury in Florida. If both grand juries are active, it recommends possible charges in both Washington and Florida. Alternatively, the Washington investigation may be nearing completion, and prosecutors are preparing to decide on charges while considering additional indictments in Florida. Another possibility is that Smith has designated Florida as the proper jurisdiction for any charges in the case and moved the entire grand jury there.
It is not uncommon for an investigation to be moved from Washington to Florida due to legal venue issues, especially when dealing with classified information. If charges are to be filed in both Washington and Miami, it could include targets who live and work in Florida, such as employees of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club and residence. Whether a Washington grand jury will reconvene and vote to indict Trump or whether a Florida grand jury will handle the case entirely remains uncertain.
The decision to base the case in Florida may have been influenced by the fact that key events related to the documents inquiry occurred while Trump was living in the state. Negotiations regarding the return of government records, preliminary discovery of classified documents, and enforcement of subpoenas took place in Florida. However, establishing a location in Washington is still a possibility.
Moving the potential case to Miami poses risks for Smith and his team, as Florida juries may be more sympathetic to Trump than those in Washington. Judges in the Southern District of Florida, including Elaine M. Cannon, who halted the investigation to review documents seized at Mar-a-Lago, may also take a more favorable view of Trump. Ultimately, the exact strategy and direction of the investigation remains largely unknown to the public.