Donald Trump may be doing shockingly fine politically speaking, but when it comes to his legal outlook, things are looking less than great for the ex-president. In April, he was charged with 34 felony counts by the Manhattan district attorney’s office for hush money payments he made before the 2016 election. This month, he was indicted by the Justice Department for retaining classified documents and conspiracy to obstruct justice. A criminal probe in Georgia may result in additional charges later this summer. And Jack Smith, the special counsel whose investigation into Trump’s handling of classified information resulted in a federal indictment—and could culminate in a lengthy prison sentence—is still examining the actions of the former guy.
That probe, which is focused on Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election and the insurrection that followed, has seemingly entered a perilous phase for the former inhabitant of the White House, with Smith obtaining the testimony of people who may have had extremely crucial information to share. According to NBC News, five or six Secret Service agents “have testified before the grand jury that will decide whether to indict former President Donald Trump for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol and efforts to interfere in the peaceful transfer of the presidency,” according to two sources familiar with the matter. While the outlet notes that it “is not known what the agents’ proximity to Trump was on Jan. 6 or what information they may have provided to the grand jury,” there is presumably at least one crucial piece of intel Smith may have wanted them to comment on.
Likely also of interest, perhaps in a potentially obstruction-y way, is the curious case of all agents’ text messages between January 5 and January 6, 2021, being deleted in a supposedly preplanned software upgrade, in addition to the deletion of text messages sent and received by departing high-ranking Department of Defense and Army officials. (Trump has denied any wrongdoing.)
Obviously, it would be extremely bad for Trump if Smith indicted him in a second, unrelated federal case. But one person seemingly not sweating it, or at least not letting it impact her summer partying plans? Former first daughter Ivanka Trump, whose Instagram account has featured many a photo of a carefree, yacht-filled summer over the past few days, starting with her apparent new identity as a surfer chick:
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Bess Levin
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