In a classic example of "be careful what you wish for" the DOJ through its filing tonight became more transparent and provided more information on why they had to secure a search warrant to seize Top Secret documents and other Presidential records that were being hidden from them by Trump and his lawyers at MAL.
Here is the damning portions of the filing which makes many of the excuses and accusations of Trump apologists to rest.
"When producing the documents, neither counsel nor the custodian asserted that the former President had declassified the documents or asserted any claim of executive privilege. Instead, counsel handled them in a manner that suggested counsel believed that the documents were Case 9:22-cv-81294-AMC Document 48 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/30/2022 Page 8 of 36 9 classified: the production included a single Redweld envelope, double-wrapped in tape, containing the documents. The individual present as the custodian of records produced and provided a signed certification letter, which stated in part the following:
Based upon the information that has been provided to me, I am authorized to certify, on behalf of the Office of Donald J. Trump, the following: a. A diligent search was conducted of the boxes that were moved from the White House to Florida; b. This search was conducted after receipt of the subpoena, in order to locate any and all documents that are responsive to the subpoena; c. Any and all responsive documents accompany this certification; and d. No copy, written notation, or reproduction of any kind was retained as to any responsive document. I swear or affirm that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
After producing the Redweld, counsel for the former President represented that all the records that had come from the White House were stored in one location—a storage room at the Premises (hereinafter, the “Storage Room”), and the boxes of records in the Storage Room were “the remaining repository” of records from the White House. Counsel further represented that there were no other records stored in any private office space or other location at the Premises and that all available boxes were searched. As the former President’s filing indicates, the FBI agents and DOJ attorney were permitted to visit the storage room. Critically, however, the former President’s counsel explicitly prohibited government personnel from opening or looking inside any of the boxes that remained in the storage room, giving no opportunity for the government to confirm that no documents with classification markings remained.
IMO just this portion of the filing puts a lie to Trump's claim that he and his team cooperated fully with the FBI before the raid. They notony signed an affidavit that they had turned over all the classified documents which was a lie but would not let the FBI search boxes still in the storage room when they inspected it. Trump and his team are getting very close to having a charge of obstruction of justice presented to them IMO.
Here is the damning portions of the filing which makes many of the excuses and accusations of Trump apologists to rest.
"When producing the documents, neither counsel nor the custodian asserted that the former President had declassified the documents or asserted any claim of executive privilege. Instead, counsel handled them in a manner that suggested counsel believed that the documents were Case 9:22-cv-81294-AMC Document 48 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/30/2022 Page 8 of 36 9 classified: the production included a single Redweld envelope, double-wrapped in tape, containing the documents. The individual present as the custodian of records produced and provided a signed certification letter, which stated in part the following:
Based upon the information that has been provided to me, I am authorized to certify, on behalf of the Office of Donald J. Trump, the following: a. A diligent search was conducted of the boxes that were moved from the White House to Florida; b. This search was conducted after receipt of the subpoena, in order to locate any and all documents that are responsive to the subpoena; c. Any and all responsive documents accompany this certification; and d. No copy, written notation, or reproduction of any kind was retained as to any responsive document. I swear or affirm that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
After producing the Redweld, counsel for the former President represented that all the records that had come from the White House were stored in one location—a storage room at the Premises (hereinafter, the “Storage Room”), and the boxes of records in the Storage Room were “the remaining repository” of records from the White House. Counsel further represented that there were no other records stored in any private office space or other location at the Premises and that all available boxes were searched. As the former President’s filing indicates, the FBI agents and DOJ attorney were permitted to visit the storage room. Critically, however, the former President’s counsel explicitly prohibited government personnel from opening or looking inside any of the boxes that remained in the storage room, giving no opportunity for the government to confirm that no documents with classification markings remained.
IMO just this portion of the filing puts a lie to Trump's claim that he and his team cooperated fully with the FBI before the raid. They notony signed an affidavit that they had turned over all the classified documents which was a lie but would not let the FBI search boxes still in the storage room when they inspected it. Trump and his team are getting very close to having a charge of obstruction of justice presented to them IMO.
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