FBI reveals why it raided Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home
The FBI has revealed it found hundreds of secret documents before it even asked to raid the former US president’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
World
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A highly anticipated affidavit that persuaded a US judge to authorise the stunning FBI search of former US President Donald Trump’s Florida residence has finally been made public.
The document states that a search of 15 boxes previously handed over by Mr Trump uncovered “a lot of classified documents,” including those regarding America’s national defence, and that there was likely to be more at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
It also said “evidence of obstruction” might be found.
Mr Trump slammed the affidavit saying his home was “broken into,” and that he had done “nothing wrong”.
Government lawyers had opposed the release of the affidavit – which was filed to establish probable cause in support of an application for a search warrant – but the judge ordered it unsealed on Friday local time.
The document, however, was heavily-redacted by the Justice Department which said it was necessary to protect an ongoing investigation involving national security.
FBI agents raided Mr Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach on August 8, seizing boxes containing a large amount of highly classified documents that he had not returned to the government despite multiple requests and a subpoena to do so.
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‘A lot of classified records’
The raid came after FBI agents conducted a preliminary review of 15 boxes voluntarily transferred by Mr Trump’s representatives to the National Archives in January this year and later identified 184 separate documents with classification markings, the affidavit said.
Based on the number of classified documents found in the 15 boxes willingly given up, the FBI affidavit states, “there is probable cause to believe that additional documents that contain classified NDI (national defence information) or that are Presidential records subject to record retention requirements currently remain at Mar-a-Lago”.
184 classified documents found before raid
According to the document, the review indicated that the boxes handed over contained “newspapers, magazines, printed news articles, photos, miscellaneous printouts, notes, presidential correspondence, personal and postpresidential records, and “a lot of classified records”.
“A preliminary triage of the documents with classification markings revealed the following approximate numbers: 184 unique documents bearing classification markings, including 67 documents marked as CONFIDENTIAL, 92 documents marked as SECRET, and 25 documents marked as TOP SECRET,” it read.
“Further, the FBI agents observed markings reflecting the following compartments/dissemination controls: HCS, FISA, ORCON, NOFORN, and SI. Based on my training and experience, I know that documents classified at these levels typically contain NDI (defence information).
All those acronyms relate to varying reasons for secrecy in those documents. “NOFORN” means documents not to be released to foreign nationals, “SI” is electronic intelligence, and “HSC” refers to information that could compromise spies working for the US.
One acronym used throughout the document “FPOTUS” refers to the former President of the United States – Mr Trump.
“Several of the documents also contained what appears to be FPOTUS’s handwritten notes,” the affidavit continues.
The FBI said the government was therefore “conducting a criminal investigation concerning the improper removal and storage of classified information in unauthorised spaces, as well as the unlawful concealment or removal of government records”.
“There is probable cause to believe that the locations to be searched at the PREMISES contain evidence, contraband, fruits of crime, or other items illegally possessed,” it continued.
‘Evidence of obstruction’
The document is so heavily redacted its unclear if the defence information found referred to nuclear weapons. It was suggested these documents had found their way to Mar-a-Lago.
The FBI made its case to searching Mr Trump’s property due to “evidence of obstruction”.
“There is also probable cause to believe that evidence of obstruction will be found at (Mar-a-Lago),” the affidavit states.
The FBI also said that the documents were kept in “unauthorised” locations at the club including Mr Trump’s residential suite, his “45 office,” a storage room and other locations.
Trump attacks affidavit
Judge Bruce Reinhart accepted the Justice Department’s arguments that there was a “compelling” need to mask significant portions of the document.
Mr Reinhart had ordered the release of the redacted affidavit by noon (1600 GMT) on Friday – and the fevered anticipation surrounding its publication caused the federal court website to crash.
Justice authorities argued against unsealing the document, saying it would require redactions “so extensive as to render the remaining unsealed text devoid of meaningful content.” But the judge said its release served the public interest, since the case involves the unprecedented search of the home of a former president.
The warrant for the raid cited three criminal statutes, including one falling under the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime to illegally obtain or retain national security information, and another on obstruction of a federal investigation.
Mr Trump, who is weighing another White House run in 2024, has vehemently denounced the FBI raid.
“The political Hacks and Thugs had no right under the Presidential Records Act to storm Mar-a-Lago and steal everything in sight, including Passports and privileged documents,” Mr Trump said on social media Friday.
“They even broke into my safe with a safecracker – Can you believe?” he wrote. “We are right now living in a Lawless Country, that just so happens to be, also, a Failing Nation!”
On Monday, the former president filed a lawsuit urging a court to name an independent party, or “special master,” to screen files seized in the FBI raid for materials protected by personal privilege.
Naming a special master could potentially block investigators’ access to the documents, especially if he or she accepts Mr Trump’s claims that most were privileged.
In addition, it could interfere if the Justice Department is considering charging Mr Trump with obstructing their investigations by refusing to hand over the documents.
The former president’s lawsuit was not filed in the federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where the original warrant was issued, but in more distant Fort Pierce, where the sole judge is a Trump appointee.
– With AFP
Originally published as FBI reveals why it raided Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home
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