The former president is accused of hiding top secret documents in his home.
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Documents seized from the Florida residence of former US President Donald Trump have been “probably hidden” to obstruct the investigation against him, indicates a document from the Ministry of Justice published on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday August 31.
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 did not had not returned after leaving the White House, despite multiple requests. Prior to the operation, the FBI discovered “multiple sources of evidence” showing that “classified documents” were still at Mr. Trump’s sprawling Mar-a-Lago residence, the document says.
Human sources put at risk
“The government also had evidence that government documents were likely hidden and taken away…and that actions were likely taken to obstruct its investigation.”, is added. The Justice Department included a photo on the back page that shows documents seized by federal police marked “Top Secret” strewn across a floral-patterned carpet. He also indicates that he explained the process that led to the raid, in order to “correct the incomplete and inaccurate narrative presented in the statements” of Donald Trump.
The department’s statement responds to a request made last week by Donald 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 documents, and justice should not do it “because these documents (seized) do not belong” to Mr. Trump, the document points out. Such a measure “is unnecessary and would seriously harm government interests, including national security”it is underlined.
According to the Department of Justice, some of the documents seized on August 8 bore the sign “HCS”which in the language of the American intelligence community 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.