New Evidence and Witness Testimonies Shed Light on Trump's Alleged Efforts to Thwart Justice Department Probe
Justice Department and FBI Discover New Evidence in Trump Investigation
Justice Department and FBI investigators have uncovered new evidence suggesting possible obstruction by former president Donald Trump in the investigation of top-secret documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home. This development comes as investigators use emails and text messages from a former Trump aide to help understand crucial moments last year.
Special Counsel Jack Smith's Investigation Focuses on Obstruction Elements
Special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the potential mishandling of hundreds of classified national security papers has increasingly focused on the obstruction elements of the case. The probe seeks to determine whether Trump took or directed actions to impede government efforts to collect sensitive records. This emphasis on obstruction marks a key distinction between the Mar-a-Lago investigation and a separate Justice Department probe into classified documents in President Biden's possession.
The Mar-a-Lago Investigation: One of Four Criminal Probes Involving Trump
The Mar-a-Lago investigation is one of four separate criminal probes involving Trump, who is campaigning for another term in the White House. Trump has been indicted by a New York grand jury in a case involving money paid to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. He is also being investigated by the Justice Department and a state prosecutor in Georgia over efforts to block Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election.
New Evidence Indicates Trump's Actions After Subpoena Delivery
Federal investigators have gathered new evidence indicating that after the subpoena was delivered, Trump looked through the contents of some boxes of documents in his home, allegedly out of a desire to keep certain items in his possession. Based on witness statements, security camera footage, and other documentary evidence, investigators now suspect that boxes containing classified material were moved from a Mar-a-Lago storage area after the subpoena was served, and that Trump personally examined at least some of those boxes.
Justice Department and FBI Discover New Evidence in Trump Investigation
Justice Department and FBI investigators have uncovered new evidence suggesting possible obstruction by former president Donald Trump in the investigation of top-secret documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home. This development comes as investigators use emails and text messages from a former Trump aide to help understand crucial moments last year.
Evidence Suggests Trump Told Others to Mislead Government Officials
Investigators have also found evidence suggesting that Trump told others to mislead government officials in early 2022 before the subpoena, when the National Archives and Records Administration was working with the Justice Department to recover a wide range of papers from Trump's time as president. This alleged conduct may not constitute a crime, but it could serve as evidence of the former president's intent.
Trump's Handling of Classified Documents Under Scrutiny
As investigators piece together events from last year, they have been asking witnesses if Trump showed classified documents, including maps, to political donors. Such alleged conduct could demonstrate Trump's habits when it came to classified documents and what may have motivated him to keep the papers. Investigators have also asked witnesses if Trump showed a particular interest in material relating to Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Obstruction: A Major Focus of the Mar-a-Lago Investigation
A major focus of the investigation is the question of obstruction, and whether Trump sought to deliberately prevent officials from gathering all classified material at Mar-a-Lago. The case goes back to efforts by Archives officials to retrieve documents and other items from the former president in 2021, after they believed that some presidential records from the Trump administration were unaccounted for and possibly in Trump's possession.
