The search was an evidence-gathering step in a national security investigation into the mishandling of classified documents, according to the documents. The sprawling property is owned by Trump and is his primary residence as well as a membership club and resort.
The FBI recovered 11 sets of classified documents from its search, according to search warrant documents released Friday.
It identifies three federal crimes the Department of Justice is considering as part of its investigation.
The inclusion of the crimes indicates that the Department of Justice will likely investigate these crimes as it was gathering evidence in the investigation. No one has been charged with a crime at this time.
Here are some key lines from the search warrant and receipt.
“Receipt” of deleted items
One of the newly unsealed documents is a search warrant “receipt” listing items that the FBI collected from Mar-a-Lago.
The documents reveal that FBI agents removed more than 20 boxes, photo binders, a set of classified government documents, and at least one handwritten note from Trump’s resort and residence in Palm Beach. increase.
According to receipt of the search warrant, federal agents seized:
- 1 set of “Top Secret/SCI” documents
- Four sets of “Top Secret” documents
- 3 sets of “confidential” documents
- Three sets of “confidential” documents.
The warrant receipt gave no details as to what such classified documents were.
Among the items photographed:
- Documents on the pardon of Roger Stone, a loyal Trump ally who was convicted in 2019 of lying to Congress during an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Stone-related materials taken from Mar-a-Lago were listed on the warrant receipt as “Executive Grant of Clemency re: Roger Jason Stone Jr.”
- Materials on the “President of France”.
Trump pardoned Stone before resigning, saving him a three-year prison sentence. It’s unclear how the Stone-related documents seized during the search are linked to a broader criminal investigation into possible mishandling of classified documents by Trump.
search permit area
The judge ordered a search of what the FBI called the “45 Office” and “any other room or area” in Mar-a-Lago available for Trump and his staff to store boxes and papers. Allowed.
“Locations to be searched include ’45 Offices’, all storage rooms, and all other rooms or areas within the facility used or available to FPOTUS and its staff, including all structures. Boxes or documents may have been stored, including or buildings on the premises,” the warrant says, using the acronym “FPOTUS” to refer to the former president of the United States.
The warrant filed by the FBI with the judge clearly stated that federal agents would avoid renting or using areas by third parties, such as “members of Mar-a-Lago” and “private guest suites.” was The sprawling property is owned by Trump and is his primary residence as well as a membership club and resort.
“It is described as a mansion with approximately 58 bedrooms and 33 bathrooms on 17 acres,” the FBI agent told the judge in the application, referring to the Mar-a-Lago property. explained.
Search warrant enforcement and release timeline
Friday, August 5th: Federal Justice Bruce Reinhart will sign the search warrant at 12:12 p.m., according to the warrant.
Monday, August 8th: FBI agents execute search warrants.
CNN previously did not release Reinhart’s name due to security concerns, but now does so because his name is part of the court record.
Trump campaign response
The warrant receipt was signed by Trump attorney Christina Bob, who spoke of her presence at Mar-a-Lago during the search.
Bob complains that she and other Trump attorneys were not allowed to attend during the search.
She signed two “property receipts” listing items that the FBI had removed from Mar-a-Lago. Bob signed these receipts at 6:19 p.m. when federal agents finished their daylong search.
Bob is best known for proponents of pro-Trump conspiracy theories, including his previous job at the far-right TV channel OAN. CNN previously reported that in December 2020, he played a leading role in the Trump campaign’s effort to turn in fake Republican electoral rolls in seven states.
Source: www.cnn.com
