A recent Harvard/Harris poll conducted among registered voters has shed light on their perception of the indictment of former President Donald Trump by special counsel Jack Smith. The poll, conducted after Trump’s arraignment, gauged public sentiment regarding the 37-count indictment, which alleged that Trump took classified documents to Mar-a-Lago at the end of his presidency.
According to the poll, a majority of registered voters, 55 percent, believe that the indictment is “politically motivated,” while 45 percent find it to be “valid.” Similarly, 56 percent of participants perceive the indictment as “interference by the Department of Justice in the 2024 elections,” compared to 44 percent who view it as “the fair application of the law.”
Furthermore, a significant majority, 57 percent, of the respondents believe that the 45th president will be acquitted on the charges, many of which fall under the Espionage Act of 1917.
The poll also examined public opinion on other high-profile cases involving classified materials, such as President Joe Biden’s documents case and Hillary Clinton’s email scandal. A majority, 65 percent, of the respondents believe that Biden “mishandled” classified material, while 72 percent think Clinton did. Additionally, 69 percent of participants believe Clinton “obstructed justice” by acid-washing her emails.
The poll posed a question regarding the fairness of indicting a former president for taking classified documents after leaving office, citing previous instances involving Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and other senior officials. Fifty-three percent of the participants expressed the belief that such indictments amount to “selective prosecution,” while 47 percent think the law is being applied evenly.
Despite the anticipation of acquittal, a majority of registered voters sampled believe that the Department of Justice has a “strong case” to varying degrees against Trump, with 42 percent considering it “weak.” Forty-four percent of participants think Trump is “probably guilty” and should be convicted, while 30 percent believe he is “probably innocent.” Another 26 percent contend that while he may be guilty, the indictment should not have been pursued due to its perceived political nature and interference with the 2024 election.
The poll also revealed that Trump continues to dominate the primary field, with a six-point advantage over Biden in a hypothetical general election matchup.
Conducted from June 14 to June 15, the Harvard/Harris poll sampled 2,090 registered voters. Although the margin of error was not specified, the results provide valuable insights into the public’s perspective on the indictment of former President Donald Trump.
Harvard Harris Poll:
— 55% of Americans say Trump’s indictment is politically motivated, (including 83% of Republicans and 55% of Independents)
— 56% consider Trump’s federal indictment to be an interference by the Justice Department in the 2024 Elections pic.twitter.com/9UtnV0UtD2
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) June 16, 2023
