Former President Donald Trump’s defense team met with Special Counsel Jack Smith‘s team on Thursday, reportedly without Trump’s lawyers receiving any guidance or even a heads-up about the timing of a possible second federal indictment of Trump for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

As we reported on July 18, Trump confirmed that he received a letter from Smith earlier this month, indicating that he is the target in the criminal investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and other actions related to the 2020 presidential election, which Trump continues to call “rigged” and “stolen.”

The prosecutors reportedly listened “courteously, without signaling their intentions beyond what they had conveyed in an earlier letter to the former president — as Mr. Trump’s lawyers made their arguments.”

Following the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social:

My attorneys had a productive meeting with the DOJ this morning, explaining in detail that I did nothing wrong, was advised by many lawyers, and that an Indictment of me would only further destroy our Country. No indication of notice was given during the meeting — Do not trust the Fake News on anything!

Since receiving the target letter, Trump had vigorously argued against a meeting between his attorneys and Smith’s team because he believed the indictment was already a done deal, according to sources familiar with his thinking on the matter.

The former president has a long history of attempting to delay court proceedings — which I’m not suggesting is a wise or unwise strategy — in this case, until after the 2024 presidential election. In addition, Trump and his legal team seek to maximize their effort to portray Smith’s indictment(s) as simply another “witch hunt,” this time against Trump as the chief rival to Joe Biden, who’s also up to his eyeballs in the Biden Family Business scandal.

Who’d a thunk that in a nation of more than 334 million people, we’d potentially find ourselves in a redux of 2020? Yet, barring currently unforeseen potential changes, it looks like that’s exactly where we’re headed.

Trump’s first federal indictment came in Miami in early June on seven counts, including conspiracy to obstruct, willful retention of documents, and making false statements — also by Jack Smith’s legal team. While Trump did get a heads-up about the June indictment, prosecutors aren’t required to give investigation targets such warnings.

This is a developing story — it seems like we’re always covering developing stories about either Joe Biden, Donald Trump, or both — so stay tuned to RedState for updates as warranted.

Meanwhile, has anyone heard if Joe Biden’s German Shepherd “Commander” has bit any more Secret Service agents? If not, has Joe?

The Bottom Line

As has been the case following Trump’s previous post-presidency indictments, it’s a safe bet that among the former president’s most ardent supporters, a second federal criminal indictment of Trump would have zero negative impact and would likely only further steel their resolve — and that of the former president — even if Trump ends up in prison.

The paramount question is this:

How would such resolve among Trump and his loyalists impact the Republican Party’s chances in November 2024, not to mention the chances of the country for the four years after the election?

I ask; you weigh in — if you so choose.