On Friday, the Justice Department released a redacted version of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit and a memo. The document lays out why investigators believe there was probable cause that crimes had been committed.
In the redacted search warrant affidavit the FBI told a judge that there was “probable cause to believe” that classified national security materials were improperly taken to “unauthorized” locations at former President Donald Trump’s club, and that a search would also likely find “evidence of obstruction.”
“There is probable cause to believe that additional documents that contain classified (National Defense Information) or that are Presidential records subject to record retention requirements currently remain at (Mar-a-Lago),” the FBI affidavit says. “There is also probable cause to believe that evidence of obstruction will be found at (Mar-a-Lago.),” the affidavit continues.
The FBI opened a criminal investigation after the National Archives sent a referral on Feb. 9, according to the affidavit.
The warrant authorized the FBI to search former President Donald Trump’s home and private club earlier this month and it lays out four main goals of the criminal investigation.
To “determine how the documents with classification markings and records were removed from the White House (or any other authorized location(s) for the storage of classified materials) and came to be stored at [Mar-a-Lago].”
To “determine whether the storage location(s) at [Mar-a-Lago] were authorized locations for the storage of classified information.”
To “determine whether any additional classified documents or records may have been stored in an unauthorized location at [Mar-a-Lago] or another unknown location, and whether they remain at any such location.”
To “identify any person(s) who may have removed or retained classified information without authorization and/or in an unauthorized space.”
Federal investigators reviewed the 15 boxes provided to the National Archives from May 16-18, and the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit details the amount of classified material that was found.
In total, the FBI seized “184 unique documents bearing classification markings, including 67 documents marked as CONFIDENTIAL, 92 documents marked as SECRET, and 25 documents marked as TOP SECRET.”
The affidavit says that there were markings on the documents with multiple classified compartmentalized controls.
“Based on my training and experience, I know that documents classified at these levels typically contain” national defense information, according to the affidavit.
“Several of the documents also contained what appears to be (the former President)’s handwritten notes,” the affidavit says.
Read the affidavit below:
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