Trump Lawyer Told DOJ All Docs Had Been Returned

Trump Lawyer Told DOJ All Docs Had Been Returned

The New York Times reports:

At least one lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump signed a written statement in June asserting that all material marked as classified and held in boxes in a storage area at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and club had been returned to the government, four people with knowledge of the document said. The written declaration was made after a visit on June 3 to Mar-a-Lago by Jay I. Bratt, the top counterintelligence official in the DOJ’s national security division.

The existence of the signed declaration, which has not previously been reported, is a possible indication that Mr. Trump or his team were not fully forthcoming with federal investigators about the material. And it could help explain why a potential violation of a criminal statute related to obstruction was cited by the department as one basis for seeking the warrant used to carry out the daylong search of the former president’s home on Monday.

Read the full article.

NEW: At least one lawyer for Trump signed a written statement for the Justice Department asserting all docs with classified markings in the boxes had been returned after a June 3 meeting, which could explain why "obstruction" statute was listed on warrant https://t.co/JKTTvk2a5H

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 13, 2022

The Justice Department also saw something on surveillance footage that had been subpoenaed of the storage area that concerned them. It was unclear what period of time the footage was from https://t.co/JKTTvk2a5H

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 13, 2022

Trump said Friday that he had declassified all the material in his possession while he was still president. He provided no documentation to back the statement https://t.co/JKTTvk2a5H

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 13, 2022

 

Charlie In SF • 17 hours ago

Theyve just said the the DoJ has hacked the security cameras at Mar-a-Lago.

Priceless.

jharp Charlie In SF • 17 hours ago

My hope is the feds seize Mar a Lago because it was used for espionage against the United States.

Isn’t that one of the best tools used against drug dealers?

Dreaming Vertebrate Charlie In SF • 17 hours ago

They used their top-secret Italian satellite capabilities. 😉

jharp • 17 hours ago

Is it just me or does it seem Trump has lost his mojo when it comes to denials?

Or is it just that his latest crimes are truly indefensible?

Buford jharp • 17 hours ago

Ari Melber offered a pretty good summary of how Trump’s defiant bluster in the media quickly turns to meek acceptance once he realizes he’s really in a tough place… to wit, his pathetic pleading the fifth last week.

In that context, this situation will be fun to watch.

Todd20036 Doug105 • 16 hours ago

The charges are serious and undeniable and the explanations may sell in Trumpland but they’re laughed away elsewhere