Trump’s Aides Unlikely to Be Charged Unless He Is

“Donald Trump’s aides are unlikely to be charged with mishandling government documents recovered in the unprecedented search of his Florida estate unless the former president is charged too,” USA Today reports.

“Potential criminal charges including the Espionage Act cited in the search warrant require willful criminal intent, a legal standard that might not apply to aides who simply packed or moved boxes without knowing what they contained, according to former prosecutors. The Espionage Act doesn’t necessarily allege spying, but mishandling documents about national defense.”

“Aides who knowingly moved or hid classified records could face potential charges. But even then former prosecutors said they wouldn’t expect document charges against aides unless Trump himself were charged.”