前总统唐纳德·特朗普已经被联邦起诉在对他处理机密文件的调查中，知情人士告诉ABC新闻。
特朗普一再否认任何不当指控，对他的起诉对前总统来说是前所未有的。
起诉书是在2022年8月在特朗普的Mar-a-Lago度假村发现100多份带有机密标记的文件后提出的。
特朗普的政治对手开始参与进来
特朗普2024年的一些竞争对手已经开始在联邦起诉前总统的消息传出后进行权衡。
前阿肯色州州长阿萨·哈钦森(Asa Hutchinson)在给美国广播公司新闻(ABC News)的一份声明中说，刑事诉讼是“主要的干扰”，并“重申唐纳德·特朗普需要尊重办公室并结束他的竞选活动。”
“随着唐纳德·特朗普第二次被起诉的消息传出，我们的国家发现自己处于削弱我们民主的境地，”哈钦森说。“唐纳德·特朗普的行为——从故意无视宪法到不尊重法治——不应该定义我们的国家或共和党。这是我们国家悲伤的一天。”
前新泽西州长克里斯·克里斯蒂告诉PBS，如果特朗普“犯了罪，并且有确凿证据证明他犯了罪，那么他必须受到指控”，否则将使美国的法治倒退。
麦卡锡发誓要追究“这种厚颜无耻的权力武器化”的责任
众议院议长凯文·麦卡锡称特朗普被联邦起诉的消息“不合情理”，并表示众议院共和党人将“追究这种厚颜无耻的权力武器化的责任”
议长是四大中第一个对特朗普的第二项指控发表评论的人。
特朗普第二次被起诉对共和党白宫竞选意味着什么:分析
消息人士称，随着前总统唐纳德·特朗普(Donald Trump)现在面临第二项指控，这一次是联邦指控，随着特朗普第三次竞选白宫，事态的转变可能会动摇共和党的初选。
特朗普在纽约第一次被起诉后所谓的封口费计划可能是未来的征兆。在第一次被起诉之前，特朗普承诺尽管受到指控，但他仍将继续竞选总统，甚至认为这些案件可能会推动他的竞选。特朗普没有错。
Seth Wenig/AP，文件
在这张2023年4月4日的档案照片中，前总统唐纳德·特朗普坐在国防标签上...
事实上，他仍然在最近的民意调查中超过了他的共和党对手。
对他竞选的另一个好处是，在他第一次被起诉后，共和党人基本上团结在他周围，甚至是在共和党总统初选中挑战他的大多数人。
但现在候选人的领域更加拥挤，包括更多愿意明确批评特朗普的候选人。
消息人士称，针对前总统唐纳德·特朗普的联邦起诉书预计将是一份“口头起诉书”，将向公众详细阐述政府的情况。
Trump indictment live updates: Trump facing federal charges in classified docs investigation
Former President Donald Trumphas been indicted on federal chargesin an investigation into his handling of classified documents, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The indictment of Trump, who has repeatedly denied any allegations of impropriety, is unprecedented for a former president.
The indictment comes after more than 100 documents with classified markings were found at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022.
Trump's political rivals start to weigh in
Some of Trump's 2024 rivals have started to weigh in following news of a federal indictment against the former president.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a statement to ABC News that the criminal proceedings are a "major distraction" and "reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to respect the office and end his campaign."
"With the news that Donald Trump has been indicted for the second time, our country finds itself in a position that weakens our democracy," Hutchinson said. "Donald Trump's actions -- from his willful disregard for the Constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law -- should not define our nation or the Republican Party. This is a sad day for our country."
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told PBS that if Trump "committed a crime and there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to prove that crime, then he must be charged," and that not doing so would set the rule of law in the U.S. back.
McCarthy pledges to hold 'this brazen weaponization of power accountable'
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called news of Trump's federal indictment "unconscionable" and said House Republicans will "hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable."
The speaker is the first of the Big Four to comment on Trump's second indictment.
What 2nd Trump indictment could mean for GOP White House race: Analysis
With former President Donald Trump now facing a second indictment, this time on federal charges, according to sources, it's a turn of events that could shake up the Republican primary field as Trump makes a third run for the White House.
The aftermath of Trump's first indictment in New York connection to analleged hush money schemecould be an indication of what is to come. Before his first indictment, Trump pledged to continue on with his presidential bid despite charges and even argued that cases could give his campaign a boost. Trump wasn't wrong.
In fact, he stilloutpaces his GOP rivals in recent polling.
Another boon to his campaign, the fact that Republicans by and large rallied around him after his first indictment -- even most of those challenging him in the Republican presidential primary.
But the field of candidates is more crowded now, comprised of more candidates willing to clearly criticize Trump.
The federal indictment against former President Donald Trump is expected to be a "speaking indictment" that will lay out chapter and verse the government's case to the public, according to sources.
Read more about what an indictment meanshere.
