Former President Donald Trump made history when he became the first former president to face federal charges.
On June 8, a federal grand jury indicted Trump on 37 counts related to his alleged storing of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after he left the White House in 2021.
Trump was arraigned June 13 at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse in Florida, where he pleaded not guilty to all counts. The charges against Trump include alleged violations of the 1917 Espionage Act and obstruction of justice.
In the leadup to Trump’s indictment, misinformation spread online about the charges Trump faces, President Joe Biden’s role in the case and other officials’ handling of classified records. False claims also circulated about key figures in the case, including Attorney General Merrick Garland and District Judge Aileen Cannon.
Here’s a roundup of claims USA TODAY has debunked related to the case:
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Claims about Trump’s indictment and key figures in classified documents case
Claim: Merrick Garland stripped Trump of right to run in 2024 after evidence of ‘justice obstruction’ was found
Our rating: False
Garland does not have the authority to prevent Trump from running for president, according to legal experts. Even if Trump is indicted in the classified documents case, he can still run for president. Read more.
Claim: Biden ordered Trump’s indictment
Our rating: False
Legal experts said Biden does not have the authority to bring criminal charges against anyone. That authority lies with federal prosecutors. In the classified documents probe, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith made the decision to indict Trump, not Biden. Read more.
Claim: Photo shows US District Judge Aileen Cannon in a ‘Team Trump’ hat
Our rating: False
The photo does not show Cannon, who has been assigned to oversee the federal case related to former President Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents. It shows two Trump supporters at one of his campaign rallies in September 2022. Read more.
Claims about current and previous administrations’ handling of classified records
Claim: Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden and Pence all took classified documents after leaving White House
Our rating: Partly false
While former Vice President Mike Pence and Biden have yet to be charged for improperly having classified documents in their possession, there is no evidence former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton or George H.W. Bush took classified documents with them after leaving the White House. Read more.
Claim: Biden did not have the authority to declassify documents as vice president
Our rating: False
Legal experts said Biden had the authority to declassify documents as vice president as the result of a 2009 executive order signed by President Barack Obama. Read more.
Claim: Classified documents were found at the University of Delaware
Our rating: False
A legal expert said no classified records have been found at the University of Delaware. Biden donated 1,850 boxes of documents from his time as a senator to the university. Read more.
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