Former President Donald Trump has been indicted for a second time, this instance involving federal charges related to the handling of classified information during his post-presidential period, according to sources familiar with the matter. The charges against Trump include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding and concealing documents, and making false statements. While the maximum sentences for these charges range from five to 20 years, it is anticipated that any potential sentence following a conviction would be less severe.

Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday for his arraignment. In response to the indictment, Trump took to social media, referring to the case as a “hoax” and asserting his innocence. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In a video shared on Truth Social, Trump emphasized his innocence and expressed confidence in proving it quickly.

The indictment of a former president on federal charges is an unprecedented event, particularly as Trump is also facing a separate criminal case in New York City, which he denies. Furthermore, he is currently the leading candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for the 2024 presidential election. These legal proceedings have significant implications both nationally and internationally, challenging long-standing norms and potentially testing the democratic system of the United States.

The federal investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents has been led by special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November. Smith is also overseeing the investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. One key aspect of the probe is to determine whether Trump or his attorneys falsely certified that all classified records had been returned to the government and whether Trump intentionally concealed unlawfully retained documents.

Preliminary evidence presented by the special counsel’s office suggests that Trump knowingly misled his attorneys about his retention of classified material after leaving office. The investigation gained momentum after National Archives officials requested the Justice Department to look into Trump’s handling of White House records, particularly after the retrieval of 15 boxes of records from his Mar-a-Lago resort that were improperly taken in violation of the Presidential Records Act.

The investigation reached a critical point when FBI agents searched Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in August, where they seized over 100 documents with classified markings and discovered numerous empty folders with classified banners in Trump’s office. The agents also collected over 11,000 documents or photographs without classification markings, all identified as property of the U.S. government.

Following the search, Trump and his legal team found additional classified documents and received further subpoenas for potentially relevant information still believed to be in Trump’s possession. Despite these ongoing legal challenges, Trump has stated his intention to continue his presidential campaign for the 2024 election.

In addition to the investigations led by Jack Smith, Trump is also under investigation in Georgia regarding his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in that state.