Former President Donald Trump said he received a target letter regarding special counsel Jack Smith‘s investigation into the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump’s declaration that he has received a target letter has left questions regarding what this means for the former president in the Capitol riot investigation. Here is what a target letter is and what it means for Trump.
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What is a target letter?
A target letter is when the Department of Justice or a federal prosecutor sends a notice to a person that says he or she is the target of an investigation. The letter will detail the crimes being investigated by prosecutors, along with what the person targeted should do next.
Trump alleges the target letter was sent on Sunday night and gives him four days to report to the grand jury investigating the Capitol riot. He claims it “almost always means arrest and indictment.”
Does a target letter mean the target will be indicted?
No. While receiving a target letter means it is very likely the person being targeted will be indicted, it is not a guarantee. A target letter is widely viewed as a preceding event to an indictment, but the Justice Department or prosecutors may send a follow-up letter indicating a person is no longer a target of their investigation.
What are the next steps in the investigation?
The next steps are not certain for Trump. However, following the target letter he received from Smith earlier this year, it appears that Trump could be indicted on some charges related to the Capitol riot investigation.
With the classified documents investigation, reports circulated that on June 7, Trump had been delivered a target letter, and on June 8, Trump announced he had been federally indicted in the case.
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There is no timeline for when the Justice Department or prosecutors must indict a target after sending a target letter, meaning indictments could still be far off, but based on Smith’s handling of the classified documents investigation, it appears charges will likely follow shortly.
Trump was federally indicted on charges related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents. He was arraigned in a Miami, Florida, courthouse last month.
