The letter signed by the lawyer raises new questions about the number of people who may have legal exposure in the ongoing investigation into the handling of classified materials from Trump’s time in the White House. The investigation reached dramatic heights earlier this week when the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, with agents seizing 11 sets of classified documents, some of which were marked as “ top secret/SCI,” one of the highest levels. classification
This inventory list contradicts the attorney’s letter. The removal of that classified information after the letter was sent could explain why prosecutors cited a statute of limitations in their search warrant request.
The sources did not identify when the letter was signed or by whom. It was part of an ongoing correspondence with the Department of Justice on the issue.
The New York Times first reported the existence of the letter.
CNN previously reported that after a June meeting at Mar-a-Lago where Justice officials walked away with classified information, investigators developed evidence, including from a witness, that made them believe there was even more classified information in the documents stored at the complex.
Court documents disclosed and released Friday identify three federal crimes the DOJ is looking into as part of its investigation: Espionage Act violations, obstruction of justice and criminal handling of government records. The inclusion of the crimes indicated that the department had probable cause to investigate those crimes because it was collecting evidence in the search. No one has been charged with a crime.
The June meeting included Trump lawyers Evan Corcoran, Christina Bobb and federal investigators, including Jay Bratt, the head of the Justice Department’s counterintelligence and export control division, CNN previously reported.
An independent source claims Trump representatives told investigators at the June meeting that Trump had declassified all the documents.
Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich said in a statement to CNN: “Like every witch-hunt manufactured by Democrats before, the water in this unprecedented and unnecessary raid is carried by a media willing to run with suggestive leaks, anonymous sources and without concrete facts.”
The National Archives, which is responsible for collecting and classifying presidential material, has previously said at least 15 boxes of White House records were recovered from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, including some that were classified.