What is the potential punishment for Donald Trump for unlawfully retaining classified documents after leaving the White House?
A. Up to 10 years in prison
B. Up to 5 years in prison
C. Monetary fine
D. Community service
What is the potential punishment for Donald Trump for unlawfully retaining classified documents after leaving the White House?
WHAT CHARGES DOES TRUMP FACE?
The most serious charges are 31 counts brought under the Espionage Act, which criminalizes the unauthorized possession of national defense information. It is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The World War One era law predates the classification of documents but makes it a crime to willfully retaining national defense information that could be useful to foreign adversaries. Courts have ruled that the information must be “closely held.”
