According to multiple reports Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to hold former President Donald Trump in contempt of court.
This request follows Trumps failure “to comply with a subpoena issued this summer ordering the former president to turn over records marked classified,” per two unnamed sources cited by CNN.
The Washington Post also reported on the DOJ request.
A Federal Bureau of Investigation search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida resulted in the discovery of classified documents Trump allegedly kept after leaving the White House. Per CNN, Trump’s legal team said more searches were conducted at four locations just before Thanksgiving, resulting in two more classified documents being found and handed over to the FBI.
With this action, the team apparently believed Trump was “in compliance with a 6-month-old subpoena,” said CNN. After losing the 2020 presidential election to President Joe Biden, Trump recently announced that he plans to run for the position again in 2024.
However, the outlet said that DOJ prosecutors told D.C. District Chief Judge Beryl Howell that the searches weren’t satisfactory.
“The contempt proceedings before Howell are under seal,” CNN added.
Last month, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the appointment of Jack Smith to serve as Special Counsel to oversee two ongoing criminal investigations related to Trump. These investigation include one into the classified documents as well as an investigation connected to the Capitol riot last January.
After losing the 2020 presidential election to President Joe Biden, Trump has frequently made unfounded claims about election fraud. He recently announced that he plans to run for the position again in 2024.
“President Trump and his counsel continue to cooperate and be transparent, despite the unprecedented, illegal, and unwarranted attacks by the weaponized Department of Justice,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement, according to CNN.
A hearing is set for Friday, the outlet said. Howell is expected to consider whether to hold Trump and his post-presidency office in contempt of court. If Trump is held in contempt, he could face fines.
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