Donald Trump is “toast” if even half the allegations in the latest criminal indictment against the former US president are proven true, his former attorney general William Barr said on Sunday.
Federal prosecutors on Friday unveiled a 37-count federal indictment against Mr Trump over his handling of classified documents, including charges under the Espionage Act and allegations that he lied as part of a conspiracy to cover up his actions.
“I was shocked by the degree of sensitivity of these documents and how many there were … and I think the counts under the Espionage Act that he willfully retained those documents are solid counts,” Mr Barr, who led the Department of Justice under Mr Trump from 2019 to 2020, told Fox News on Sunday.
“If even half of it is true, then he's toast.”
Mr Trump is due to appear in a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday to make an initial appearance in the case.
Most of the charges against him stem from his retention and handling of secret and top secret documents that he took with him when he left the White House in January 2021 and relocated to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
Prosecutors say he kept the files willy-nilly in the popular property, where thousands of guests and visitors come and go. Some sensitive documents were even kept in a bathroom.
Donald Trump indicted in classified documents probe – in pictures
Although other former presidents have taken sensitive documents with them after leaving office, Mr Trump's case became so serious because he refused to co-operate with authorities when they asked for the documents back.
Mr Trump has vigorously denied any wrongdoing. He claims President Joe Biden and his administration have “weaponised” the Department of Justice and are engaged in a politically motivated witch hunt.
He also says that he had the authority to “declassify” any documents he wanted to, but investigators have an audio recording of him acknowledging that is not the case.
For the most part, Mr Trump's fellow Republicans have rallied around their leader and are propagating the narrative that he is a victim of political persecution.
Asked whether the indictment influenced their view of the former president, 61 per cent of Americans in a CBS News/YouGov poll on Sunday said it would not.
The survey found that 76 per cent of Republican respondents were concerned that the charges were politically motivated.
His lawyer, Alina Habba, told Fox that Mr Trump had done “nothing wrong” and would not take a plea deal to minimise fallout from the case as he seeks his party's nomination for the 2024 election.
“He would never admit guilt, because there was nothing wrong with declassifying documents,” Ms Habbe said. “This is completely politically motivated. It's election interference at its best.
But Mr Barr said the idea Mr Trump is a victim of a witch hunt “is ridiculous”.
“Yes, he's been a victim in the past. Yes, his adversaries have obsessively pursued them with phoney claims … But this is much different. He's not a victim here.
“He was totally wrong that he had the right to have those documents; those documents are among the most sensitive secrets that the country has,” Mr Barr said.
Mr Barr and Mr Trump were once close but their relationship ended badly after Mr Trump put pressure on him to conduct bogus investigations into voter fraud as the defeated president sought to overturn his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.
Among the documents Mr Trump allegedly held were battle plans against another country, reportedly Iran, that the indictment says he displayed to unauthorised people.
“Battle plans for an attack on another country or Defence Department documents about our capabilities are in no universe Donald J Trump's personal documents,” Mr Barr said.
Mr Trump told Politico on Saturday that he would continue his presidential campaign, even if he were convicted in the case, saying: “I'll never leave.”
This is the second indictment for Mr Trump, who has been separately charged with dozens of felonies in a New York state investigation into hush-money payments he allegedly made to a former adult film actress during the 2016 presidential campaign. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Legal experts say the new indictment, filed in Miami, Florida, is potentially more perilous for Mr Trump.
He also is being separately investigated in Georgia and Washington and is the first former president in US history to face a criminal indictment.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
South Africa's T20 squad
Duminy (c), Behardien, Dala, De Villiers, Hendricks, Jonker, Klaasen (wkt), Miller, Morris, Paterson, Phangiso, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Smuts.
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
