Trump says he was named 'target' of Jan. 6 probe

Former US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he has received notification from a special prosecutor overseeing the probe into the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. 

Trump said on his Truth Social account that he received the letter from special council Jack Smith stating that he was a "target" of the  investigation.

Trump said that the notice suggested to him that he would be criminally indicted over the violence.

This would represent the clearest sign to date that Trump may face federal criminal charges over efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. 

The charges, however, are not yet clear. Such a letter can precede an indictment and is used to advise individuals that prosecutors have evidence linking them to a crime.

What to know about Trump's legal cases

On January 6, 2021, more than 2,000 of Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol. Lawmakers were gathered at the time for a joint session of Congress to confirm current President Joe Biden's victory in the Electoral College.

In November 2022, the Justice Department appointed special counsel Smith to oversee two criminal investigations. 

The Capitol riot probe is centered on Trump's alleged efforts to interfere with the transfer of power. The other, separate, case involves possible mishandling of classified documents. 

Trump was charged last month in the case related to his handling of classified documents and alleged efforts to obstruct that investigation. In that case, Trump had received a letter ahead of being charged on 37 counts of wilfully retaining hundreds of documents at his Florida home after leaving office.

Trump said Tuesday that the latest letter gave him "a very short four days" to report to a grand jury, "which almost always means an arrest and indictment."

A spokesman for Jack Smith declined to comment on whether Trump received the letter.

rm/wmr (Reuters, AP, AFP)