Top secret classified documents, some with the sign “HCS”, which in the language of the American intelligence community designates information provided by “human sources”, informants and other undercover agents. The US Department of Justice on Tuesday released new photos of so-called “classified” documents seized from the Florida residence of former President Donald Trump.
The Ministry of Justice published a procedural document on Tuesday in which it explains in the most detailed way to date the reasons that led the US Federal Police (FBI) to raid the former president’s residence on August 8 to recover extremely confidential documents. that he had in his possession. he did not return after leaving the White House, despite multiple requests.
“Probably hidden” documents to “obstruct”
Before the operation, the FBI uncovered “multiple sources of evidence” showing that “classified documents” were still at Donald Trump’s sprawling Mar-a-Lago residence, the document says.
“The government also had evidence that government documents were likely withheld and suppressed…and that steps were likely taken to obstruct their investigation,” it added.
As the US press, and CNN in particular, points out, since January more than 320 top-secret documents have been seized from Donald Trump, including more than a hundred on August 8.
The Justice Department says it has explained the process that led to the raid, in order to “correct the incomplete and inaccurate account presented in the depositions” of Donald Trump. The latter, who believes he is being persecuted by the government, has requested an independent review by a third party of the documents seized from his home by the FBI.
However, naming this third party could block investigators’ access to the documents, and justice should not do so “because these (seized) documents do not belong” to Donald Trump, the document underlines. Such an appointment “is not necessary and would seriously undermine the interests of the government, including in terms of national security,” it stresses.
Trump denounces “a witch hunt”
Investigators suspect that the Republican violated a US law on espionage that very strictly regulates the possession of confidential documents. Donald Trump assures him that these documents have been declassified.
The Republican, who flirts with the idea of a candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections, denounces a “witch hunt” carried out against him by the administration of his successor Joe Biden, and believes that justice would not have “never had to authorize this forced entry” into his home.
Source: BFM TV
