Special counsel Jack Smith urged Americans to read Trump’s indictment to understand ‘the gravity of the crimes charged’

© AP Photo/Peter Dejong, Pool Prosecutor Jack Smith waits for the start of the court session of Kadri Veseli’s initial appearance at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers court in The Hague, Netherlands, Nov. 10, 2020. AP Photo/Peter Dejong, Pool

Special counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation into Donald Trump’s handling of documents at Mar-a-Lago, addressed the American people for the first time on Friday after unsealing a stunning 37-count indictment of the former president.

Smith urged Americans to read the more than 40-page indictment — which included counts related to the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice — “to understand the scope and the gravity of the crimes charged.”

The Trump charges are tied to the improper handling of classified national security documents, which according to the indictment were stored at Mar-a-Lago in places like a shower.

“Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced,” Smith said. “Violations of those laws put our country at risk.”

Smith stressed that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and said that the Department of Justice will pursue a speedy trial in the Southern District of Florida.

“We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone,” Smith said.

Trump has been attacking Smith on his social media platform Truth Social and has denied any wrongdoing.