FBI investigation into Donald Trump's handling of government documents

Plasmic Echo^[1] was the codename for a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump's handling of classified and national defense-related government documents beginning in 2022, looking for possible violations of the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice.^[2]^[3]

In November 2022, a special counsel investigation was launched to take over the FBI investigation, under the direction of Jack Smith, a special counsel appointed by United States Attorney General Merrick Garland.

On June 8, 2023, Trump was indicted on charges related to the documents in the Federal District Court in Miami. It was the first time a former U.S. president had faced federal charges.^[4] Trump was arraigned at the federal courthouse in Miami on June 13, 2023, on 37 criminal charges, pleading not guilty to all charges.^[5]

^ Feuer, Alan (April 22, 2024). "Trump Was Warned to Return Records to Archives, Unsealed Documents Say". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2024. Some of the exhibits revealed, for instance, that the F.B.I. used the code name "Plasmic Echo" for its initial investigation of the classified documents that Mr. Trump took to Mar-a-Lago.
^ Polantz, Katelyn; Cohen, Zachary; Murray, Sara; Cohen, Marshall (August 12, 2022). "FBI took 11 sets of classified material from Trump's Mar-a-Lago home while investigating possible Espionage Act violations". CNN. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
^ Thrush, Glenn; Feuer, Alan; Haberman, Maggie (August 26, 2022). "Trump Search Live Updates: Documents at Mar-a-Lago Included Top Secret Information". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
^ Feuer, Alan; Haberman, Maggie; Rashbaum, William K.; Protess, Benjamin (June 8, 2023). "Trump Indicted: Trump Is Charged in Classified Documents Inquiry". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
^ "Trump Pleads Not Guilty in Documents Case". New York Times. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.

[1] Feuer, Alan (April 22, 2024). "Trump Was Warned to Return Records to Archives, Unsealed Documents Say". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2024. Some of the exhibits revealed, for instance, that the F.B.I. used the code name "Plasmic Echo" for its initial investigation of the classified documents that Mr. Trump took to Mar-a-Lago.

[CNNInfo-2] Polantz, Katelyn; Cohen, Zachary; Murray, Sara; Cohen, Marshall (August 12, 2022). "FBI took 11 sets of classified material from Trump's Mar-a-Lago home while investigating possible Espionage Act violations". CNN. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.

[:0-3] Thrush, Glenn; Feuer, Alan; Haberman, Maggie (August 26, 2022). "Trump Search Live Updates: Documents at Mar-a-Lago Included Top Secret Information". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.

[:14-4] Feuer, Alan; Haberman, Maggie; Rashbaum, William K.; Protess, Benjamin (June 8, 2023). "Trump Indicted: Trump Is Charged in Classified Documents Inquiry". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 9, 2023.

[5] "Trump Pleads Not Guilty in Documents Case". New York Times. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.

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