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© Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Judge orders unsealing of redacted affidavit in Trump search
By ERIC TUCKER WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
64 Comments
Ah_so
It's an open and shut case. Trump held US government property, much of which was highly sensitive, and ignored repeated requests and a subpoena to return them.
Ah_so
It wouldn’t because it doesn’t. And team Trump has absolutely nothing to gain from this - it’ll be bad for Trump.
lincolnman
A Trump-appointed judge...just like the Trump-appointed head of the FBI....
Trump sure has a knack for picking "the best" people that then launch "witch hunts" against him...LOL...
And just wait until the affidavit reveals Melania, Don Jr, and Ivanka were the "rats" that tipped off the FBI...
And we discovered this week that not only TS/SCI was found at Mar-A-Lago, but Special Access Program info also....
*The National Archives found more than 700 pages of classified material — including “special access program materials,” some of the most highly classified secrets in the government — in 15 boxes recovered from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in January, according to correspondence between the National Archivist and his legal team.*
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/23/national-archives-letter-trump-security-00053250
SAP/SAR is the MOST SENSITIVE classified we have - those are "black" programs that can only be discussed within a special SAP facility. And Trump kept that level of classified in a box in a closet at Mar-A-Lago for anyone to see...
This is now one of the largest and most serious national security violations in our history...and the former Commander-in-Thief needs to be held accountable...
OssanAmerica
Good, Every word other than "Trump" "illegal" "obstruction" "security risk" "willful retention" "misleading" "misrepresentation" "unaithorized" "violaton" should be redacted.
This is still an ongoing criminal investigation and needs to be treated as such. Don't let Trump turn his into his usual political circus. Altready the Trump zombies and Repub enablers have attacked the FBI for simply doing their job.
stormcrow
Let's hope and pray that this is the political end of Donald Trump and that Trump never sets up shop in the Oval Office ever again.
wallace
A total of 700 pages of classified documents were recovered from Mae-a-Lago during three visits. They were marked with the most sensitive information.
N. Knight
Yes well there is a clear difference between a conspiracy theorist's imagination... and reality.
Desert Tortoise
This is a much easier to prove indictment than inciting an insurrection and has significant jail time associated with a conviction.
wallace
Trump said any document removed from the White House by an ex-president or president automatically declassifies that document. No one else could find that law.
Desert Tortoise
Because it isn't. Declassifying a document involves what is called the "Original Classification Authority" or OCA. There has to be a risk assessment performed to determine what, if any risks, are going to be created by declassifying the document. There are opportunities for different levels of government to push back against declassification if they think doing so will expose people to danger or reveal secrets that adversaries could use against the US. A famous example was the attempt by Mr. Trump to declassify the Kennedy Assassination investigation. He asserted he could declassify it but when he actually tried he ran into a buzz saw of opposition. I cannot imagine a President giving a blanket declassification of TS/SCI and Special Access material without the agencies that classified those documents approving the declassification and that would leave a verifiable paper trail. So far there is no evidence this happened and the documents indeed remain classified.
Bob Fosse
Oooh fox news.
Here’s another one, also from fox news. In a nutshell; too much focus on 45’s whining and no real policy or strategy for the gop means a likely Democrat midterms. Even fox are getting their ducks in a row.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/democrats-good-chance-winning-mar-a-lago-midterms
sunfunbun
From Nixon to Bush/Cheney to Trump, the stuff Republicans do in office are constantly if not purely criminal, full of lies of which the right continues to find belief in wrong narrative and often goes against the democracy of the USA and her constitution.
Trump illegally kept documents, it's quite obvious to anyone who isn't a truth blind right winger.
wallace
bass4funk
ROFL
wallace
Trump playing the kid's game "hang-the-man".
"Trump not only had classified records at Mar-a-Lago, not only had TS/SCI classified records, but he also had Special Access Program classified information. Those are our most sensitive secrets. They were sitting in a damn basement."
plasticmonkey
They did, and Trump kept dragging his feet.
Says who.
McCarthy is a moron and he and his GOP housemates will just embarrass themselves attacking the FBI while defending a serial lawbreaker.
sunfunbun
Just proves the point that right wingers make up narratives to fit their lies. Happens ubiquitously.
And that right wingers are blind to the truth. Funny thing is if a Democrat does what Trump did by taking out documents that shouldn't have left Washington, they'd be raging on the criminality! Love that hypocrisy!! LOL!!!
Numan
@Bass
but.............
A Trump ally produced an unpublished letter meant to help him. It actually spells out even graver concerns over documents at Mar-a-Lago.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-ally-produced-unpublished-letter-150601344.html
Silvafan
Yes, it is! Critical thinking is not Trump's nor his lawyers strong point.
The argument from Trump that the documents are subject to executive privilege protections suggests those documents are official records – which he or any former president is authorized to keep and should have turned over to the National Archives at the end of the administration. It is the law!
If Trump successfully argues the materials are protected by executive privilege, then he also successfully argues that he was in unlawful possession of official records. If he is unsuccessful, then executive privilege would not be a valid basis to seek a special master.
Maybe Trump is hiding the stolen classified documents in Mar La go' secret tunnels. Or, maybe let his Russian comrades come through the tunnels to make copies or transport them to another location.
If Trump is willing to use his deceased wife as a tax benefit for a golf club then it is definitely possible that he would sale US National secrets to safe or enrich himself.
Numan
@Black
I did not see the article discuss anything about DeSantis or trump presidential runs!
Off-topic?
Pot meet kettle!
Numan
@Bass
Your evidence........
Lol!
N. Knight
"Lock him up! Lock him up!"
Desert Tortoise
This same matter was litigated all the way to the US Supreme Court back in 1971 when Richard Nixon tried to claim executive privilege over the personal papers of his administration after his resignation. The courts ruled that Nixon's claim of executive privilege did not shield his papers from a criminal investigation and in any event after leaving office he could no longer claim executive privilege. That belongs only to a sitting President. Congress passed laws also upheld by the courts making Presidential documents the property of the National Archives at noon on the day a President's replacement is inaugurated or upon the President's departure from office otherwise, such as when Nixon resigned. The documents would not be subject to Freedom of Information Act release for five years after a President left office. After that they are part of the public record.
Desert Tortoise
By law all official documents of his administration were to be handed over to the National Archives by 20 January 2021. He did not do so. There were 19 months of discussions between the National Archives and Mr. Trumps lawyers requesting the return of documents that belong to the American public. He was given a subpoena to turn over all the missing documents in early June 2022. Federal agents briefly searched the basement where documents were supposedly being stored and took 15 boxes of official documents that are the property of the US. His attorney attested in late June 2022 that there were no more such documents in the possession of the Trumps. He lied. The subsequent search of Mar-A-Lago turned up something on the order of 700 pages of classified documents. Surveillance footage showed Mar-A-Lago staff moving boxes of documents from room to room. The former President had ample opportunity to turn over all the official documents in his possession and simply refused time and time again, in violation of multiple Federal laws.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/timeline-how-trumps-effort-to-hold-onto-federal-records-gradually-became-public
Bob Fosse
Don’t shoot the messenger. It’s a fox article. You like those.
Bob Fosse
Whom fox news published. Times are changing.
Bob Fosse
They usually are. As I said, times are changing. fox want to limit the amount of egg on their faces.
Bob Fosse
lol.
starpunk
Trump was installed into the WH by Russian cyberattacks on the Electoral College. Already he violated security and every meeting with Vlad was in secret. 'I can do what I want', he whined. Donald Trump is the worst traitor in all of HISTORY. A total sell-out. A ZERO.
wtfjapan
Also, the warrant was broad based and not narrower in scope which is very unusual, it basically allowed the Feds to take anything they wanted. Now it looks like the Feds are in serious damage control mode now and it doesn’t look good for the DOJ and the FBI.
not even close to reality, there was an informant in Mara lardo that tipped off the FBI that not all the documents were returned, the multiple attempts in the past to get the documents back,only some of which were. Trumps lawyer signed off that all were returned, clearly lying. over 700 documents were found in the raid even the highest level nuclear documents. what does Trump need with nuclear documents!?, theyd never be made public, even for Trumps library
Trumps all but given up, his latest excuse I wanted to keep them for my presidential library LOL.
Big shift from I didint take any classified material LOL
wtfjapan
Not yet.
Trumps done, just magas havent come to terms with it yet.
next up NY rape trial, Georgia grand jury incoming. Too many think the FBI raid is the last of trumps problems. LOL
lincolnman
So Trump stole classified info to include TS/SCI and SAP/SAR and kept it in a closet at Ma-A-Lago for two years...
The National Archives tried for months to get the info back, but Trump refused...
The National Archives then referred the issue to the DOJ - DOJ reps engaged Trump and his lawyers to return the info but they refused...
Finally in Jan 22, Trump agrees to return 15 boxes - the Archives reviewed the boxes and determined in a letter to Trump's attorneys;
*In its initial review of materials within those boxes, *NARA identified items marked as classified national security information, up to the level of Top Secret and including Sensitive Compartmented Information and Special Access Program materials.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zVNjJPJg3OR4giMYu1chxJOD5nMsANEb/view
Get that? Top Secret, SCI, and SAP/SAR - The most sensitive info we have - to include "black" programs....
Then someone in Trump's inner circle tips off the FBI that there is even more classified - this even after a Trump lawyer states in writing in Jun that; "there is n longer any classified at Mar-A-Lago"....
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-lawyer-june-said-classified-material-had-been-returned-ny-times-2022-08-13/
So the FBI searches in Aug and finds 11 MORE boxes to include more Top Secret....
Lies, lies, and more lies...
This is the biggest and most serious national security breach in our nation's history....
Express sister
This is some incredible truth twisting.
Express sister
Got it, procedure should always be followed and never violated or ignored unless you don’t like someone, then the law doesn’t matter. Cool.
No, it wasn’t. Mueller’s report concluded that while it was not his decision to recommend prosecution, it could be decided on by the DoJ. Trump’s lapdog Barr never had any intention of charging Trump, even if it was clear that he had been in direct contact with Russia himself (which seems unlikely).
That’s not what was said. Again, you are making things up.
lincolnman
Giving up the "gaval"? Fine....glad she'll be keeping the gavel...
ROFL....
wtfjapan
They are trying, but nothing is set in stone, again, they are trying I want to poles at this clothes especially for the income Vince, it’s not that good of a sign
just makes mathematical sense far more republican senate seats up for grabs than dems, cost far more money to defend all those seats.
just as there is far more dems seats up for grabs in the house. in 70yrs nearly every election the house has flipped during each midterms, same as the senate. except twice. doesnt look likely to change this time around. republican's are begging Trump not to announce his 2024 bid before the midterms, as they know how toxic he is and the mid terms will be about Trump. nothing drives record turnout when Mango Mussolini is on the card.
wtfjapan
Not unless he’s in leg irons and in a cell and that’s not going to happen.
dont even need for that, just all his litigation for the next 2yrs, October surprises just around the corner. LOL
its ironic everything Trump tried in the past is coming back to bite him in the rear.
Polls from all major polls left and right, show an overwhelming shift of independents away from Trump and his magas, cant win elections with independent voters
WA4TKG
Here we go:
bass4funk
The Dems hope, but nothing is written in stone
Right now the prospects of them keeping the house are beyond slim, at the Republicans just need to take five seats and it’s over.
Maybe according to the CNN and MS NBC sycophants
I think he should, it can galvanize the base and they’re already ticked off at what is happening to him, but that’s up for him to decide
To the establishment, I hope so.
bass4funk
Thank God!
You think it’s funny? Hmmm, no wonder the Dems are getting their clocked cleaned
No, Because if they had to go right where they wanted him, he would’ve been gone a long time ago, this is been going on 7 years
It is the difference between the chair poles and the exit polls as well as the independent polls
bass4funk
Yes, very close to reality according to most No-bias legal constitutionalists.
Mar-a-Lago
So then it was incumbed upon the DOJ to retrieve the documents via issuing a new subpoena
According to whom? Can you verify this? How would you know this for a fact?
not to mention other documents that were taken, the warrant did not specify any specific documents, it just violated his fourth amendment and allowed the feds to take whatever they wanted, which was broad-based, that’s not how you issue a warrant and this is the reason why we need to see the affidavit
Nope, not his style. His ego would never allow it. Lol
Trumps done,
If it was a serious crime committed, he would’ve been arrested already, along time ago
Yeah, none of those are looking good as well for the Dems.
bass4funk
And you know this based on from…..
Mueller debunked the Russia narrative.
The Dems do, so what’s the difference?
If he were a traitor then he would have already been charged with treason and in prison, that didn’t happen, so….
Blacklabel
exactly what the DOJ memo said.
"The memo, which was released in response to a lawsuit by a government watchdog group, says Volume II of Mueller's report "is not, in our judgment, sufficient to support a conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt that the President violated the obstruction-of-justice statutes."
so he did NOT obstruct justice and Mueller couldnt prove he did.
Blacklabel
Polls? Yesterday poll shows him winning against Biden by 5.5 points. in Pennsylvania of all places.
He has moved Hispanics 24 points towards him and Blacks 14 points.
guess that Jan 6 tv show and this nonsense FBI raid backfired and just made him more popular than ever,
Blacklabel
bottom line, unredacted documents are the best option to eliminate speculation and leaks.
look at this beauty we just heard about in the other case once it was unredacted:
That certainly does not match what certain posters here spent 4 years telling us.
I feel this FBI raid affidavit will be the same once the (likely flimsy) excuse for the raid 3 months before an election is fully revealed.
bass4funk
Not yet.
bass4funk
Bingo!
bass4funk
Again, the Feds know exactly what he had and if there were that much of an urgency to get those particular documents back, then they would have done so, of course, they would have and they started the process, now if you want to believe the Feds and the DOJ who already have a beyond damaged reputation, go right ahead.
They are in a row.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2022/house/elections-map.html
Looking good, just 5 seats and Nancy is giving up that gaval.
Blacklabel
Fox News but written by a person named Kevin Walling.
Who describes himself as a "Democratic operative" in the article.
bass4funk
No need to.
Ahhh, someone that isn't on the bashing Trump side that logically can interpret the law without their personal feelings getting involved, helps a lot.
Blacklabel
there has not even been an indictment, much less a trial and conviction.
You got a looooong way to go before its obvious, much less quite obvious.
There is a Presidential Records Act and the ability for a President to declassify documents at his discretion that say differently.
bass4funk
Uh-huh…lol
https://video.foxnews.com/v/6311318795112
bass4funk
Here is some clarification for one of the country's most astute libertarian legal constitutionalists.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/agreeing-doj-redacted-version-trump-mar-a-lago-affidavit-mistake-judge-turley
bass4funk
Yes, without all the left cherry-picking.
Egg? What egg? If Dems think they have this midterm in the back, then that is comedy at its best.
Blacklabel
yeah, so remember that next time you immediately criticize a Fox News article as biased.
They published an article by a Biden campaign operative and presented it as "news".
thats not bias.
bass4funk
No, it’s actually not.
And according to the Feds that already knew of the documents he had in his possession, if there was something of high significance that the Feds wanted they would have requested it months and months ago or from the beginning and they didn’t, and even when they Feds were on his Mar-a-Lago estate and the exchange was made where the Feds did receive 15 boxes (documented proof he was cooperating) they advised him to purchase a lock and secure the files as per the DOJ request. So basically, Trump and his team were following the exact requests by the Feds.
Also, the warrant was broad based and not narrower in scope which is very unusual, it basically allowed the Feds to take anything they wanted. Now it looks like the Feds are in serious damage control mode now and it doesn’t look good for the DOJ and the FBI. This is just the beginning of their headaches, when McCarthy is house speaker it’s just going to get much worse. Let’s see what the affidavit will say or what we can see from the redacted from.
Blacklabel
so back to the topic, I guess the idea it to redact just enough to keep the speculation and the leaks coming for the next 2-3 years.
I imagine we will get some final resolution on this after the end of Trump's second term in 2028, right before DeSantis takes over?
I mean we just got the unredacted memo from Mueller investigation the other day that exonerated Trump fully, right?
Hervé L'Eisa
Just imagine how quickly an unredacted affidavit would have been "leaked" by an anonymous FBI/DOJ source if the shoe were on the other foot!