The federal government discovered more than 300 classified documents from the estate of the former Florida president Donald Trump since his resignation, at least half of the documents have been restored during the initial search of the National Archives at Trump’s Palm Beach compound in January of this year.
In accordance with The New York Times, the release of the initial batch of classified material by the agency tasked with documenting and preserving historical records, prompted Trump officials to release an additional unknown amount of material to the government in June and precipitated a federal raid on Mar-a-Largo earlier this month, during which the FBI seized additional documents. At least one box of recovered materials was labeled the highest level by the federal government.
The news about the extent to which Trump is keeping state secrets comes just hours after the former president sued seeking to prevent the Justice Department from “further reviewing the seized materials,” arguing that “the integrity of these documents is important not only to [Trump] but also to the institution of the presidency.” In the statement, Trump is also asking for the appointment of a federal watchdog — a so-called “special master” — to continue monitoring the Mar-a-Lago investigation.
“The government refused to give President Trump any reason for the unprecedented strip search of his home. To date, the government has failed to legitimize its historic decision to raid the home of a fully cooperating president,” the lawsuit says. “The documents seized at Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022, were seized from President Trump and were created during his time as President. Accordingly, the documents are “presumptively privileged” until proven otherwise. . . . Only an evaluation by a neutral reviewer, a special master, can ensure the sanctity of these privileged materials.”
In February National Archives confirmed that 15 boxes were found during the January search containing material purportedly removed from the White House in violation of the Presidential Records Act — including Trump’s self-titled “love letters” North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. This was reported by a source close to the case Times that this initial batch of documents also contained CIA, FBI, and National Security Agency documents “covering a variety of topics of national security interest.” Sources have also previously disclosed to the Trump media stored classified material related to nuclear weapons at Mar-a-Lago — an a claim that Trump quickly denied as “deception”, doubling down on claims that an ongoing investigation into his storage of classified material it’s just a guerilla witch hunt organized by “radical left-wing Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for president in 2024.”
The Justice Department’s suspicions that additional classified material remained at Mar-a-Lago after a search of the National Archives led federal authorities issue a subpoena in May demanding the return of additional documents. After meeting with government officials to turn over the materials, two of Trump’s attorneys — including Christina Bobb, former host of the militant-rights, pro-Trump One America News Network — signed a statement on June 3 saying all the unauthorized documents at March-a-Lago was returned to federal authorities Times reported.
However, a subsequent review of Mar-a-Lago video footage by the Department of Justice after the June 3 announcement showed people apparently carrying boxes of classified material seized earlier around the club grounds, prompting additional questioning of witnesses which ultimately led to an FBI raid on the estate on August 8th. The unsealed federal search warrant in connection with this latest search, it was revealed that the Department of Justice is investigating the former president, who is in combat for possible violations of the Espionage Act.
Since the Aug. 8 Mar-a-Lago raid, Trump’s paranoia against both the federal government and his dwindling circle of sycophants has skyrocketed. A Rolling Stone report from early August it was revealed that the ex-president has recently become increasingly concerned that someone in his inner circle may be “wired” or that his personal communications are being monitored by “Biden”. The investigation was also led by several right-wing politicians demand “defunding” from the FBI and the Department of Justice to “weaponize” federal agencies.
“When I worked for him, it was a daily obsession [about] who merged, who cooperated with what. He regularly asked me and others, “Do you think I can trust this person?” or “Do you trust this person?” or tell me to ‘go find the person who got away,'” said Stephanie Grisham, a former senior Trump aide. Rolling Stone. “Trump demands total loyalty, and yet he turns people on at any moment. And now he’s in a situation where he and his people are wondering who among them might have given some of his most classified information to the FBI.”
