Current:Home > InvestFormer Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich testifies in documents investigation. Here's what we know about his testimony-LoTradeCoin
Former Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich testifies in documents investigation. Here's what we know about his testimony
View Date:2024-12-23 18:38:04
Washington — A former spokesperson and aide to former President Donald Trump testified before a federal grand jury in Miami, Fla., Wednesday as part of special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump's retention of classified records after he left office.
Taylor Budowich — now head of the Trump-aligned political action committee MAGA, Inc. — confirmed that he appeared at a Florida courthouse in a statement criticizing investigators.
"Today, in what can only be described as a bogus and deeply troubling effort to use the power of government to 'get' Trump, I fulfilled a legal obligation to testify in front a federal grand jury and I answered every question honestly," his statement said. "America has become a sick and broken nation—a decline led by Joe Biden and power hungry Democrats. I will not be intimidated by this weaponization of government. For me, the need to unite our nation and make America great again has never been more clear than it is today."
Budowich's super PAC is supporting Trump's reelection campaign. His attorney, Stanley Woodward, who was seen with him outside the courthouse, Wednesday, declined to comment.
A grand jury in Florida has been hearing testimony in recent weeks from witnesses connected to the Justice Department's probe into the potential mishandling of sensitive government documents, sources confirmed to CBS News. The proceedings in Florida follow months of grand jury testimony from witnesses and the presentation of evidence by the special counsel's prosecutors in Washington, D.C.'s federal courthouse.
Witnesses raniging from Mar-a-Lago employees to close Trump aides and attorneys have testified in the nation's capital in recent months. The relationship between the recent Florida proceedings and those in Washingtion, D.C., remains unclear, but Budowich's appearance on Wedesday shows the grand jury is still considering evidence.
The Florida grand jury proceedings were first reported by The New York Times.
The special counsel was appointed last year after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, collecting more than 100 documents with classified markings. Prosecutors are also looking into whether there were efforts to obstruct the recovery of the records, according to multiple sources close to the investigation, after months of wrangling between the federal government and Trump's legal team to over the documents.
Wednesday's testimony comes the same week that CBS News first reported Trump's attorneys met with Justice Department officials, including Smith himself, to discuss their concerns about conduct during the investigation. Several sources with knowledge of the investigation believe a charging decision could be imminent.
Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing in the case and characterized the investigation as politically motivated. On his social media platform Wednesday, he accused the Biden administration of election interference: "they are launching all of the many Fake Investigations against me RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CAMPAIGN, something which is unheard of & not supposed to happen. DOJ, FBI, NEW YORK A.G., NEW YORK D.A., ATLANTA D.A. FASCISTS ALL!"
Investigators have uncovered evidence that Trump's staff moved boxes the day before a June 2022 visit to Mar-a-Lago by the FBI and a federal prosecutor, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News. This was first reported by The Washington Post.
The special counsel has also obtained in recent months an audio recording in which Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document after he left the White House, according to people familiar with the matter. Two of these sources said Trump can be heard on the recording conceding that there were national security restrictions on the memo because it detailed a potential attack on Iran. It is not clear from the recording whether Trump was in possession of the document at the time or was just describing its contents to at least three people who were present during the meeting, the people said. CBS News has not listened to the audio, the existence of which was first reported by CNN.
A spokesperson Smith's office declined to comment.
- In:
- Donald Trump
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Burger King's 'Million Dollar Whopper' finalists: How to try and vote on your favorite
- Four of 7 officers returned to regular duty after leak of Nashville school shooting records
- QB Joe Burrow is out for the season. What it means for Bengals.
- El Salvador’s Miss Universe pageant drawing attention at crucial moment for president
- RHOP's Candiace Dillard Bassett Gives Birth, Shares First Photos of Baby Boy
- Amazon shoppers in 2024 will be able to buy a Hyundai directly from the retailer's site
- Empty vehicle on tracks derails Chicago-bound Amtrak train in Michigan
- 'Heartbroken': 5-year-old boy fatally stabs twin brother with kitchen knife during fight
- Why have wildfires been erupting across the East Coast this fall?
- From wild mustangs to reimagined housing, check out these can't-miss podcasts
Ranking
- Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue and Billy Porter to perform at Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
- IBM pulls ads from Elon Musk’s X after report says they appeared next to antisemitic posts
- Arizona man found dead at Grand Canyon where he was hiking popular trail
- Judge rules Michigan lawmakers violated open meetings law during debate on gun control legislation
- Investigators believe Wisconsin kayaker faked his own death before fleeing to eastern Europe
- 2 transgender boys sue after University of Missouri halts gender-affirming care to minors
- Defeated Virginia candidate whose explicit videos surfaced says she may not be done with politics
- Indian troops kill 5 suspected rebels in Kashmir fighting, police say
Recommendation
-
New 'Yellowstone' is here: Season 5 Part 2 premiere date, time, where to watch
-
'Golden Bachelor' Fantasy Suites recap: Who ended up on top after Gerry's overnight dates?
-
High-speed and regional trains involved in an accident in southern Germany, injuring several people
-
High-speed and regional trains involved in an accident in southern Germany, injuring several people
-
Rachael Ray Details Getting Bashed Over Decision to Not Have Kids
-
Japan, China agree on a constructive relationship, but reach only vague promises in seafood dispute
-
Texas A&M interviews UTSA's Jeff Traylor for open head football coach position
-
World's first gene therapy for sickle cell and thalassemia approved in the U.K.