WASHINGTON (AP) – Along with highly classified government documents, FBI agents who looking for former President Donald Trump’s estate in Florida found dozens of empty folders marked secret, but with nothing inside and no explanation of what could be there, according to more detailed inventory of withdrawn material made public on Friday.
Agents also found more than 10,000 others government Trump’s documents with classification is not marked.
The inventory compiled by the Department of Justice shows in general terms content of 33 crates and containers seized from Trump office and a warehouse in Mar-a-Lago during a search on 8 August.. Although the description does not describe content of documents, it shows the degree to which it is classified information – including material upstairs-secret level – was hidden in boxes on home and mixed between newspapers, magazines, clothing and other personal items.
And empty folders raise a question of whether government restored everything of secret documents that Trump left behind after leaving the White House.
Inventory does clear for in first time volume of unclassified government documents for home even though presidential records had to be flipped over to the National Archives and Records Administration. Archive tried unsuccessfully for months to secure their return from Trump, and then contacted the FBI after discovering secret information in the consignment of 15 boxes he got in January.
The Justice Department said there were no safe space in Mar-a-Lago for sensitive government secrets and opened criminal investigation focused on keeping them there and on what is this says there have been efforts in in past several months to block the probe. this is also investigation of possible violations of law criminalizing mutilation or concealment of government records, secret or not.
Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment Friday. Trump’s spokesman Taylor Budovich said the FBI search was “maul and grab” even though the Justice Department had obtained court-sanctioned permission to search specific individuals. locations in in home.
The inventory was published when the Department of Justice conducts its work. criminal investigations, as intelligence agencies evaluate any risk to national safety caused due to mishandling of secret information and how the judge weighs whether to appoint special master – essentially outside legal expert – review records.
The inventory had been sealed earlier, but the Justice Department said that given the “extraordinary circumstances” it had no objection to compiling it. public. Trump himself has previously called for information disclosure of search related documents. This was stated by US District Judge Eileen Cannon. on Thursday that she planned to print inventory and did it on Friday.
All said, inventory showsFBI seized more over 100 documents with classification marking in August, including 18 marked peaks secret54 secret and 31 confidential. The FBI has identified 184 documents marked as classified. in 15 crates discovered by the Archive in January, and received additional secret documents in the only Redweld envelope during a June visit to Mar-a-Lago.
The Department of Justice said it had conducted a search property in August after receiving evidence that the documents were likely “hidden and removed» from the pantry in the composition of an attempt to block his probe.
No explanation was given in the case file. for why Trump kept the classified documents and why he and his representatives did not return them upon request.
Inventory shows that 48 empty folders with secret banners were taken either from storage or office together with additional empty folders marked “Return to the Secretary of Staff” or military assistant
No it’s not clear from inventory list what could happen to anyone of documents that appear to have been inside.
Separately on Friday, the Justice Department said in the court’s statement that it examined documents seized during a recent search and identified those with secret marking for ensure that they have been stored in accordance with the proper protocol and procedure.
“Seized materials will continue to be used for further government investigation, and investigative team will continue use and evaluate the seized materials as this requires further investigation steps, for example, through additional interviews of witnesses and grand jury practice”, the department said.
it added that “additional evidence relating to the seized items”, including the way in which they were stored, “will inform the government of the investigation.”
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