Topline
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is working with the Justice Department to determine whether the trove of classified documents that former President Donald Trump brought with him to Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House posed any threats to national security.
Then-President Donald Trump walks toward the White House residence after exiting Marine One on the … [+] South Lawn of the White House on March 9, 2020 in Washington. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Key Facts
House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement Saturday that Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines confirmed she is working with the Justice Department to “assess the damage caused by the improper storage of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.”
Haines’ involvement marks the first acknowledgement from the Biden Administration that it is conducting a review of the Mar-a-Lago situation separate from the Justice Department investigation.
Haines wrote a letter to Schiff and Maloney saying the intelligence probe “does not unduly interfere with DOJ’s ongoing criminal investigation,” according to Politico, which first reported the news.
Crucial Quote
“The DOJ affidavit, partially unsealed yesterday, affirms our grave concern that among the documents stored at Mar-a-Lago were those that could endanger human sources,” Maloney and Schiff said. “It is critical that the IC move swiftly to assess and, if necessary, to mitigate the damage done.”
Key Background
Federal agents carried out a raid at Mar-a-Lago on August 8, recovering 20 boxes containing records Trump appeared to wrongfully take with him to his private residence after leaving the White House, which reportedly included some documents marked as “top secret.” The redacted affidavit released Friday, which the Justice Department used to show probable cause to obtain a search warrant, revealed there were also at least 25 “top secret” marked documents within 15 boxes of records Trump willingly turned over to the National Archives in February. Trump has repeatedly claimed the raid was politically motivated, and given assurances that the documents were perfectly secure at his resort home.
What To Watch For
The DOJ investigation is reviewing whether there were violations of the Espionage Act, according to a search warrant attachment.
Further Reading
DOJ Releases Redacted Mar-A-Lago Search Affidavit — Here’s What It Says (Forbes)
Search Warrant Unsealed In FBI’s Trump Mar-A-Lago Raid (Forbes)
Mar-A-Lago Raid: FBI Investigating Whether Trump Violated These 3 Statutes (Forbes)
FBI Agents Search Mar-A-Lago In ‘Unannounced Raid,’ Trump Says (Forbes)
Intel officials to assess national security fallout from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents (Politico)
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