Department procedural document explains why the FBI searched Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence on Aug. 8 to seize documents he shouldn’t have taken with him
The top secret documents seized from the former president’s residence Donald Trump in Florida, “likely hid” them to hinder a federal police investigation into the Republican tycoon, according to a Justice Department document released overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.
This procedural document explains the reasons that led the federal police (FBI) to investigate the August 8 to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence to seize documents he should not have taken with him when he left the White House.
Prior to this operation, the FBI had found “lots of evidence” that “classified documents” were still at Trump’s residence. The federal police “also had evidence that government documents were likely hidden and taken (…) and that actions were taken to obstruct the investigation,” that document continues.
The department describes FBI agents first going to Mar-a-Lago in June to retrieve several files. A member of Trump’s team “assured them under oath” that they were the last ones still being held in that house. But in the investigation that took place in August, the police found none 30 empty boxes with documents which were characterized “confidential” or even “top secret”. The FBI and the department’s lawyers were forced to seek “additional approval” to be able to study them.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, spoke of “deliberate deception” and “extremely irresponsible” behavior by Trump’s inner circle.
On the last page of the document, a photo shows the documents seized by authorities, stamped “Top Secret” on them, strewn on a carpet with a floral pattern.
“It’s appalling the way the FBI, during the Mar-a-Lago raid, threw the documents like they were on the floor (maybe to make them think I did it!),” Trump responded via the Truth platform Social, assuring that he had previously declassified these documents himself.
The Justice Department said it explained the process that led to the search of the home to “correct the incomplete and inaccurate narrative presented in the statements” by Trump.
The ministry’s announcement essentially responds to the request made last week by the former president, requesting that the seized documents be examined by an independent expert. The appointment of a third party could prevent investigators from accessing the documents, and authorities are not required to do so because “those documents do not belong” to Trump, the department stressed.
The case came to light in January when the National Archives, which is responsible for keeping presidential documents, received 15 boxes of files that Donald Trump took with him when he left the White House. From examining these boxes the FBI became convinced that the former president likely had other documents in his possession. Investigators believe Trump violated the US Espionage Act by possessing classified documents.
At the moment, however, he has not been prosecuted for any case.
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