ADDS TRUMP CONFIRMATION IN GRAFS 2-5; EDITS AND ADDS DETAILS THROUGHOUT; REMOVES MOST REFERENCES TO REPORTS
By Iclal Turan and Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - Lawyers for former President Donald Trump met Thursday with Special Counsel Jack Smith as a potential federal indictment on charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election looms.
Trump said last week that Justice Department officials informed him he is a target of an investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. He confirmed Thursday that his legal team met with Smith's office for what he called a "productive meeting."
The former president said his lawyers explained "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!" he said on Truth Social, appearing to rebut media reports that suggested his attorneys were informed that Trump would be indicted.
Trump said last week that he received a letter from officials in Smith's office that told him he has "4 days" to present himself to the grand jury investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection, which he said, "almost always means an Arrest and Indictment."
The grand jury hearing evidence from the special counsel’s probe is sitting Thursday at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC, CNN reported, adding it spotted jurors and a prosecutor working for Smith entering the courthouse Wednesday.
Trump's team sought to use Thursday's meeting to have any potential indictment against their client delayed, according to CNN, which based its reporting on anonymous sources familiar with the discussions.