Former President Donald Trump was gathered with his core political advisers in the office near his poolside cottage at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, when his phone rang around 7 p.m. on Thursday. On the line, according to two people with knowledge of the call, was one of his lawyers, informing him he had been indicted for the second time in less than three months.
Unlike the first indictment — in a state court in Manhattan related to allegations he had paid hush money to a porn actress during the 2016 election — the current charges were federal, and stemmed from his conduct just before leaving office and for roughly 18 months after.