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Trump sues to block DOJ from FBI’s Mar-a-Lago raid documents


Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Student Action Summit for America (TPUSA) of the United States (SAS) in Tampa, Florida, U.S. July 23, 2022.

Marco Bello | Reuters

Former President Donald Trump in a new lawsuit on Monday asked that a federal judge appointed a special watchdog to review documents seized from his Florida home as part of a criminal investigation into the deletion of White House records when he left office in January 2021.

Trump’s lawsuit, which suggests the FBI’s August 8 raid was politically motivated, also asks that the Justice Department be blocked from “further reviewing seized documents” from the Mar-a-Lago mansion. until the so-called specially appointed master reviews the documents.

Special masters are appointed in criminal cases when there is concern that certain documents seized by authorities will not be viewed by investigators because it is protected by attorney-client privilege. or other factors against its use in a prosecution.

Special masters have been appointed to review documents seized during federal crime investigations by two of Trump’s former personal attorneys, Michael Cohen and Rudy Giuliani.

Trump’s lawsuit in Florida’s Southern District Court accuses the federal government of violating his Fourth Amendment rights to unjustified searches and seizures with the raid, believed to be the first. The home of a former president was searched in connection with a criminal case.

In addition to finding a particular owner, the lawsuit requires the DOJ to provide him with a more detailed inventory of property seized at the Palm Beach resort.

And it requires the government to return any confiscated items that are not within the scope of a search warrant authorizing the raid.

“This break-in, search, and seizure of Mar-a-Lago is illegal and unconstitutional,” Trump said in a written statement released after the lawsuit was filed.

“And we are taking all necessary action to get the documents back, which we gave them without the need for a cowardly raid on my house, so that I can put them in the Archives. National until they are required for future Donald. J. Trump Presidential Library and Museum,” he added.

DOJ spokesman Anthony Coley, in a statement on Trump’s actions, said, “The August 8 search warrant at Mar-a-Lago was authorized by a federal court based on a search warrant. possible cause. The department became aware of the motion this evening. The United States will file a response in court.”

Former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald / Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Charles Trainor Jr | Miami Herald | beautiful pictures

The lawsuit comes as a federal magistrate judge in that same court is reviewing arguments by media organizations to overturn an FBI affidavit that proves the need for a search warrant.

That order indicated that authorities were investigating potential violations of the law related to espionage and obstruction of justice. According to court documents, several sets of documents marked as top secret were seized during the raid.

The DOJ is expected on Thursday to submit proposals for cutting portions of the subpoena.

Trump’s lawsuit calls the raid “an amazingly shocking move” by about two dozen FBI agents, carried out “with no understanding of the suffering it would cause most Americans.” “

“Law enforcement is a shield that protects Americans. It cannot be used as a weapon for political purposes,” the lawsuit says. “We therefore seek judicial assistance following the unprecedented and unnecessary raid on President Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago.”

The lawsuit says Trump is “a clear lead” in both the 2024 Republican primary and presidential election, “if he decides to run.”

“Politics cannot be allowed to influence the administration of justice,” the lawsuit said.

It also said that the government had told Trump’s attorney that “privileged and/or potentially privileged documents” were among the items seized.

But the government has so far “refused to provide any information regarding the nature of these documents,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit argues that there was no reason for the FBI to raid Trump’s home because he was cooperating with authorities seeking to recover records from his residence.

After 15 boxes of files were retrieved from Mar-a-Lago earlier this year, Trump’s lawyers contacted authorities from the White House, National Archives and Justice Department about the documents. allegedly “protected by executive privilege,” according to the lawsuit.

In May, according to the complaint, Trump “voluntarily” accepted a grand jury subpoena against his office’s record holder to search for classified documents.

Trump decided to conduct a search of the response files, and then he “invited the FBI to Mar-a-Lago” to retrieve them, the lawsuit said.

On June 3, the DOJ’s top counterintelligence official Jay Bratt arrived at Mar-a-Lago with three other agents, and Trump “welcomed them in the dining room,” the lawsuit says.

Trump then left the agents with Trump’s record keeper and adviser, adding, “Whatever you need, just let us know,” according to the complaint.

“When we got back to the dining room, one of the FBI agents said, ‘Thanks. You don’t have to show us the storage room, but we appreciate it. Now it all makes sense,” according to the lawsuit.

“Advisor to President Trump subsequently closed the interaction and advised Government officials that they should contact him if there is any further need on this matter.”

In that storage room were “boxes, many of which contained the clothing and personal effects of President Trump and the First Lady,” the lawsuit said.

On June 8, Bratt asked Trump’s attorney to secure that vault, and Trump accordingly “directed his staff to place a second lock on the door,” according to the complaint.

In a phone call three days after the raid, the lawsuit said, Trump’s adviser relayed a message to Bratt: “President Trump wants the Attorney General to know that he got a response from everyone. around the country about the raid if there was one word to describe their mood, it was ‘angry.’ The heat is going up. The pressure is going up. Anything I can do to cool down, lower the pressure, just let me know.”



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