WASHINGTON, AUGUST 26 (ANSA) – On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice released an edited version of the statement used to obtain court approval to carry out a search and seizure operation at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Florida.
The statement was ordered by Florida Judge Bruce Reinhart last Thursday (25) in a lawsuit in which Republican and mainstream US media wanted the document to be made public.
The expectation is the elaboration of the evidence justifying the unprecedented operation. Trump is under investigation for suspected violations of the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice and destruction of official records. In the Mar-a-Lago operation carried out on August 8, 20 boxes of documents were seized, including confidential files obtained from the White House after the Republican’s term ended.
This is the first time in US history that a former president has been the subject of a search and seizure warrant at one of his residences.
In an attached note, the Department of Justice explains why the statement should remain omitted some data.
“The information contained in the affidavit can be used to identify many, if not all, witnesses,” the document says. “If witnesses are identified, they may be harmed and even face threats to their physical safety, including retaliation, intimidation or harassment,” he continues.
According to the edited statement, 14 of the 15 cases taken earlier this year contained classified documents – a total of 184 documents – and 25 files were top secret.
“The government is conducting a criminal investigation into improper removal and storage of confidential information in unauthorized areas and illegal concealment or removal of government documents.”
According to US officials, the FBI had warned the Secret Service, which was protecting the former president, before it arrived, and confirmed that it was not a forced operation.
In addition, it is believed that there may be evidence that Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence obstructed justice. Therefore, the search warrant allowed the confiscation of materials found in the mansion.
An inventory released alongside the warrant reveals that FBI agents seized 11 sets of classified documents, four of which were top-secret and three that were top-secret.
After the file was released, Trump described the release of the edited statement as “a complete public relations gimmick by the Justice Department and the FBI.”
Current U.S. President Joe Biden said he would let the “Justice Department” determine if U.S. national security was compromised at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
source: Noticias
