Documents seized from the Florida residence of former US President Donald Trump were “likely withheld” to obstruct the investigation against him, a Justice Department document said on Tuesday.
This procedural document explains in the most detailed manner to date the reasons which led the American federal police (FBI) to search the residence of the former president on August 8 to recover extremely confidential documents that he had not returned after leaving the White House, despite multiple requests.
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Prior to the operation, the FBI uncovered “multiple sources of evidence” showing that “classified documents” were still in Mr. Trump’s sprawling Mar-a-Lago residence, the document says.
“The government also had evidence that government documents were likely withheld and removed…and that actions were likely taken to obstruct its investigation,” it added.
The Justice Department says it explained the process that led to the raid, in order to “correct the incomplete and inaccurate account presented in Mr. Trump’s statements.”
The department’s statement responds to a request made last week by Mr. Trump, who feels he is being persecuted by the government, to have an independent third party review documents seized from his home by the FBI.
But naming this third party could block investigators’ access to the documents, and justice should not do so “because these documents (seized) do not belong” to Mr. Trump, the document underlines. Such an appointment “is not necessary and would seriously undermine government interests, including in terms of national security”, it is underlined.
According to the Justice Department, some of the documents seized on August 8 bore the sign “HCS,” which in US intelligence community parlance refers to information provided by “human sources,” informants and other undercover agents.
Investigators suspect the Republican of having violated an American law on espionage which 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 presidential election of 2024, denounces a “witch hunt” led 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.