In a recent interview with LiveNow from Fox, Andrew Lieb, an attorney at Lieb at Law, offered insight into former President Donald Trump's federal arraignment. The case at hand revolves around accusations that Trump misused classified documents and obstructed justice.
Lieb explained that the investigation was being led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland. The probe's scope includes an examination of Trump's handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and the events of January 6th. However, the current arraignment focuses solely on the former.
While the investigation began under Judge Canon, the arraignment itself will be overseen by Magistrate Judge Goodman. The chief contention is what Trump did with classified documents after leaving office, including his alleged obstruction of returning these documents and the potential violation of the Espionage Act.
Trump reportedly paid someone to record conversations in which he acknowledged the classified status of certain documents. This revelation is a significant component of the indictment. The maximum penalty for these charges amounts to 400 years, although Lieb was clear to specify that this is a theoretical maximum, not a sentencing guideline.
The arraignment process was outlined as a relatively straightforward procedure. It typically involves the entry of a plea, and in Trump's case, the expectation is a plea of not guilty. However, the process of capturing images and video will be heavily restricted within federal court, and there will be no mug shots due to perceived security risks.
Moving forward, Lieb anticipates Trump will face trial, and given federal prosecutors' historically high conviction rates, he sees it likely that the former President could face prison time. It’s also worth noting that this arraignment is only one part of several potential legal issues for Trump, with potential grand jury proceedings in DC and investigations in Georgia yet to play out.
Addressing the crowds gathered outside the courthouse, Lieb expressed hopes for peaceful protests. He reiterated that it's essential for the judiciary to run its course without violent interruption, regardless of public opinion. He pointed out that Trump would have a jury largely composed of his peers in Florida, a state with a Republican majority.
