WASHINGTON (AP) — An investigation into Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents has intensified in recent weeks, with prosecutors summoning a broad range of witnesses before a federal grand jury and zeroing in on questions of whether the former president or others obstructed government efforts to recover the records.

It remains unclear when the investigation led by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith might end or whether Trump might face charges over documents found at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate. But as probes in Washington and Atlanta proceed, Republican critics of Trump see an opportunity for intensifying legal woes to take away his frontrunner mantle in the 2024 presidential race in a way that an earlier indictment in New York failed to do.

The ongoing investigations “are the ones that have the meat,” said Bobbie Kilberg, a longtime Republican donor who has become a vocal Trump critic.

”It’s very, very serious,” she said. “It ought to have a real impact on the American people. And if it doesn’t, all I can do is shake my head in bewilderment.”

A grand jury in the Mar-a-Lago case has heard testimony over the last few months from numerous Trump associates. Prosecutors have put before the panel a lawyer who helped respond to Justice Department demands for the classified documents last year, and have also been interested in Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage. At least one witness was asked to testify a second time, suggesting prosecutors may be looking to lock in particular testimony they view as useful, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss secret legal proceedings.

In a message Friday on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Smith of “harassing and threatening my people” over the documents investigation, which he called a “hoax.” His lawyers have similarly sought to pre-emptively attack any indictment, telling the House Intelligence Committee in a letter last month that the Justice Department “should be ordered to stand down” from the probe.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement to The Associated Press on Monday that the investigations are “nothing more than a targeted, politically motivated witch hunt against President Trump” designed to prevent him from returning to the White House.

Investigators over the last year have cast a wide net. They’ve interviewed witnesses about Trump’s handling of classified documents as president and about the response to a May 2022 subpoena that demanded the return of classified materials in his possession, people familiar with the matter have said. They’ve also sought to determine whether Trump took steps to hide any records taken to Mar-a-Lago or showed them to anyone, as part of a continued focus on possible obstruction.

Among the witnesses who recently testified was Matthew Calamari Jr., the director of security at Trump Organization, Trump’s company, according to one of the people.

His testimony could be relevant because of prosecutors’ subpoena to the Trump Organization last year for surveillance footage from the Palm Beach property. Video reviewed by prosecutors showed a Trump associate moving boxes of documents out of a Mar-a-Lago storage room, prosecutors have said. Other media organizations reported that Calamari’s father, also named Matthew Calamari, a Trump organization executive vice president, testified last week too.

A moment that underscored the gravity of the case came in March when Smith’s team secured the testimony of Trump lawyer M. Evan Corcoran after convincing a judge in sealed proceedings that Corcoran’s legal services had been used in furtherance of a crime.

Corcoran helped draft a letter last June to the Justice Department attesting that Trump’s team had conducted a “diligent search” for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in response to the government’s subpoena. At that time, the Trump team produced roughly three dozen classified documents, on top of 15 boxes of records returned in January 2022 to the National Archives and Records Administration.

But prosecutors suspected even more classified records remained. They obtained a search warrant last August and seized more than 100 additional documents.

In their letter, Trump’s lawyers said that Corcoran expected investigators to return to Mar-a-Lago to go through any boxes of documents that remained, and that he and Trump “understood this to be the beginning, not the end, of working cooperatively.” Though the letter was addressed to lawmakers, it presumably includes arguments the lawyers would make to try to head off any potential indictment.

Prosecutors on Smith’s team have simultaneously pressed forward with a separate probe into efforts by Trump and allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, winning court orders to question key advisers and aides before the grand jury. Among the witnesses to appear was former Vice President Mike Pence, who two weeks ago spent hours inside the Washington courthouse.

In Georgia, prosecutors in Fulton County are investigating whether Trump or anyone else committed crimes in trying to undo his narrow loss in that state to Democrat Joe Biden.

The investigations are in addition to the March indictment from the Manhattan district attorney arising from hush-money payments during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign to a porn actor who alleged an extramarital sexual encounter with him years earlier.

Though a blow legally, the indictment seemed a boon for Trump in the Republican Party’s evolving presidential primary contest ahead of the 2024 election. Trump’s standing in the GOP had been slipping until he was charged, when suddenly, Republicans across the political spectrum rushed to defend him against what they framed as a questionable, politically motivated prosecution.

Today, polling suggests that Trump is the dominant frontrunner in the GOP’s growing 2024 field.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump’s chief primary rival, has struggled to maintain the same level of strength he wielded prior to Trump’s indictment. But as the governor prepares to launch his campaign officially, his allies are quietly confident that Trump’s baggage will eventually catch up to him.

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a frequent Trump critic, described the New York indictment as “somewhat of a swing and a miss.”

But any further indictments prosecutors might bring, Duncan said, “are going to be a whole different amplitude that he’s gonna have to deal with.”

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Hundreds of invited guests turned out for the official grand opening of Roadrunner Express at the Soboba Indian Reservation. Located across Lake Park Drive from Soboba Casino Resort, the gas station and convenience store is a perfect addition to the community.

The Soboba Economic Development Corporation was happy to see the project come to fruition. Its Board Chairman and Soboba Tribal Member Michael Castello, who served as emcee for the March 14 ceremony, said it was an historic event for the Tribe and something that was truly needed for a long time in the area. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for all of us,” he said.

After a blessing by Soboba Tribal Council Secretary Monica Herrera in her Luiseño language she shared that she was always told that when you see a roadrunner, it is good luck or a blessing for your day. “So, I pray that every visitor who comes to Roadrunner Express will be taken care of, receive their good luck and leave here happy on their trails,” she said.

The Inter-Tribal Bird Singers shared a couple of social gathering songs and were joined by several bird dancers. Castello then recognized former SEDC board member Lori VanArsdale for being instrumental in getting the project up and running as well as for her efforts over the years.

SEDC Board Vice Chairwoman Becky Flores was overwhelmed by the strong turnout for the celebration. “As you know, the most important aspect of the Soboba EDC is its pursuit to create a diversified business portfolio,” she said. “It is and always will be for our people. And everything we do here on the board is for you. It takes all of us to build a business and to create this. I’m very honored to be here today to talk about opportunities that we are here to create for our people; opportunities for self-fulfillment, self-sufficiency, self-advancement and for employment. We all have our dreams and aspirations, and Roadrunner Express is just one small piece of that – a small step to providing all those opportunities.”

Other SEDC board members are Secretary/Treasurer Steven Nino, Director Lakshman Koka and Director Sasha Pachito. SEDC staff members, Office Manager Elizabeth Stephenson and HR Consultant Pamela Trotter, were also introduced.

The Roadrunner Express team includes General Manager Thomas Palma, Assistant Store Manager (Operations) Johanna Valadez and Assistant Store Manager (Deli) Andrea Nunez. Palma said there are currently 26 Team Members on staff and 64% of them are Tribal members, a fact he said he is extremely proud of.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with Soboba,” Palma said. “It’s a time in my life when I want to be able to give back and I’ve been given that opportunity here to take what I’ve learned in the past 30 years and train and develop a whole new team for the Roadrunner Express.”

He thanked Mayme Modesto and Dolores Odem from the Santa Rosa Pit Stop for allowing him to take the leadership team and some key team members to their store at the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation near Mountain Center for training.

“I want to thank the team that I’m working with who are starting to teach me the culture but also for being very open and receptive to learning and taking feedback as a gift,” Palma said. “This is probably the best team I’ve had in over 20 years and it’s a privilege to be a part of this whole process and to work with the SEDC team.”

Skye McMichael from owners’ rep Oak and Stone Development said they were grateful to have been brought onto this team. “One of our goals and passions is to be able to come in and assist Tribes with establishing and creating any self-sustainable economic advantages that we have,” he said. “We love seeing this facility – it’s a great monument.” He noted the fact it was beginning to rain but said, “with rain comes new beginnings and I think this is a new great beginning for Soboba and we’re happy to see it happen.”

Many dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the grand opening including City Council members from Hemet and San Jacinto and leaders from Mt. San Jacinto College, the Hemet-San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce, San Jacinto Unified School District, Hemet Unified School District, Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District, Soboba Casino Resort Assistant General Manager Jason Cozart and Chief Marketing Officer Martin Moore, as well as the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal Executive Officer Steven Estrada. Field representatives from local and regional government offices were also present and provided certificates of recognition, plaques and proclamations marking the grand opening.

San Jacinto Mayor Pro Tem Crystal Ruiz said, “All our citizens are going to be benefitting once again by something that Soboba has done.”

Herrera, on behalf of the Soboba Tribal Council, presented a proclamation to the SEDC, which was launched in 2015 to promote the economic development of the Soboba Band with a long-term goal of generating revenue and jobs through businesses on or near the Soboba Indian Reservation. “SEDC continues to grow,” she said. “Legacy Bank and Roadrunner Express are only the beginning with many more to come. As they continue to grow and expand their economic footprint, we wish them all the success. It’s a good day for Soboba – I couldn’t be happier.

Palma said, “We offer great service, convenience foods and grocery staples, including fresh milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices.” The store offers products that shoppers need but also unique products that cannot be easily found at other local stores.

The all-natural energy drink G.O.A.T. Fuel was created by NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and his family in 2020. It is a lifestyle brand focused on bringing health-forward products and a Greatest Of All Time mindset to consumers. All eight flavors were being sampled at the grand opening, along with samples and giveaways from several other vendors whose products are available at Roadrunner Express.

Also unique to the location are Slush Puppie brand ice-type drinks, flavored tobacco products, vapes and Signal and Seneca brand Tribal cigarettes. Palma said when the rewards program launches in about a month, it will offer specials and fuel discounts to all rewards members.

Roadrunner Express currently offers freshly made food items such as salads, parfaits, sandwiches, chicken tenders and more. More menu items will be added in the near future such as take-and-heat food offerings. A suggestion box is available at the checkout counters for customers’ input.

“We are also the lowest-priced gasoline in the San Jacinto/Hemet area,” he said. “We offer top quality gasoline, unlike some of the other off-brand stations.”

Roadrunner Express is at 2214 Lake Park Dr. in San Jacinto. The store is currently open from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The gas pumps are available 24/7 with use of a credit/debit card between midnight and 6 a.m. The store plans to be open around the clock in a few months, further adding to its convenience for Soboba Casino Resort guests and employees.

For more information, https://sobobaroadrunnerexpress.com or 951-487-7745.

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