January 6, 2021, was a dark day for American civilization as hoards of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The event has not only shaken the foundations of democracy but also tarnished the reputation of a superpower nation globally. But the more concerning aspect of the incident was the instigation by the president of the United States, Donald Trump.
And earlier this month, he was again embroiled in suspicions when his Tweet allegedly revealed Barack Obama’s residential address, which became an accessory for terrorism by one of the J6 rioters.
After the incident, the Department of Justice issued a target letter to Donald Trump, alerting him to appear before the grand jury. On July 18, Trump confirmed on Truth Social that he had indeed received a target letter and further said that he has “a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment.”
What does it mean for Mr. Trump? Here’s a complete breakdown of what a target letter is.
What Is a Target Letter?
The prosecutors send official correspondence to a person who is under criminal investigation. This letter acts as a notification to the charged recipient that their criminal investigation has reached the final stages and heading toward a verdict.
According to Widge Devaney, a former federal prosecutor–
“A target letter, as a technical matter, is notification that the government has substantial evidence linking you to a crime and that you are a quote, putative defendant.”
“As a practical matter, it means we are almost certainly going to charge you, and if you have anything to say to us, say it now.”
Target letters can be categorized into two types based on the charges-
1) To a person who has been subpoenaed to testify (keep their defense) before the grand jury. Depending on the testimony, they may or may not be charged with the crime.
For example, Trump had received a target letter for hush money payments in the Manhattan district attorney’s investigation and was charged with falsifying business records. At the same time, he was again indicted last month for handling classified documents by Smith’s investigation. He did not even appear before the jury in both cases and pleaded not guilty.
2) To a person who is not subpoenaed as a witness but will still be indicted by the grand jury. The Justice Department Policy is to warn the person that he will be indicted regardless.
Although Trump has not revealed the contents of the letter, it is presumed that the target letter will fall under this category.
What Is the Purpose of a Target Letter?
The ultimate purpose of the target letter is to provide an official document exhibiting that the defendant was given a fair notification about their criminal investigation.
The target letter in itself signifies that the investigation has already reached the final stages, with proper analysis of the evidence, and now the only stage remaining is declaring the verdict.
Who Gets a Target Letter?
A target letter recipient is usually charged with federal offenses which potentially harm the nation’s reputation, democracy, manipulation of official records, or put national security in jeopardy. In such cases, the justice department alerts the charged person that they are targeted for federal investigations.
There might be a possibility that the prosecutors couldn’t compile enough evidence. And no one can get arrested based on just a document.
If the occasion arises, it is advised to hire an attorney to negotiate/settle the conditions of the charges.
Here is a sample template of what a target letter entails:
“You are advised that you are a target of the grand jury’s investigation. You may refuse to answer any question if a truthful answer to the question would tend to incriminate you. Anything that you do or say may be used against you in a subsequent legal proceeding. If you have retained counsel, who represents you personally, the grand jury will permit you a reasonable opportunity to step outside the grand jury room and confer with counsel if you desire.”
What are your thoughts on Trump receiving a target letter in the J6 probe? Do you think he will be indicted? Let us know your opinions in the comments section below.
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