Arrest countdown begins for Donald Trump as DOJ closes in

Former US President Donald Trump might face arrest again following an investigation by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) into his attempts to reverse the 2020 election results and the subsequent Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.

Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to announce that he received a notification from the DOJ’s special counsel, Jack Smith, stating his potential arrest.

The former American president expressed his shock and concern at the news, stating that the notice, received on a Sunday night, indicated that he was the focus of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation. This notification comes with an expectation for him to report to the Grand Jury within four days, which typically signals an imminent arrest and indictment.

Meanwhile, a federal court in Florida is due to hear arguments in the classified documents criminal case on Tuesday. Donald Trump’s attorneys have suggested postponing any trials related to that case until after the 2024 election, a proposal opposed by Jack Smith’s prosecutors.

Donald Trump anticipates arrest as DOJ targets him in Capitol Riots investigation. Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America/Wikimedia Commons.

The DOJ often notifies subjects when they become a target of an investigation. However, while such notification often suggests a potential indictment, it does not necessarily mean charges will follow, as CNN reports. This notification practice is discretionary, allowing targets an opportunity to present evidence or testify before the grand jury if they choose.

Donald Trump is also under criminal investigation by a Georgia state prosecutor for allegedly pressuring election officials to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in the state. If Donald Trump faces criminal charges related to the 2020 riots, it would be his third indictment this year. He already faces dozens of charges for falsifying business records in New York and similar federal-level charges for alleged illegal retention of classified materials and other presidential records.

Recently, prosecutors have interviewed election officials in seven states where Donald Trump’s team falsely claimed fraud and put forward fake electors post the 2020 election. Investigators have also focused on a December 2020 Oval Office meeting where Donald Trump’s advisors reportedly discussed seizing voting machines and invoking martial law as part of efforts to overturn the election results.