According to a new report, the Justice Department has found an “insider witness” as it investigates classified documents found in former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
Citing people familiar with the investigation, the New York Times reported that the unidentified person is cooperating under the condition of anonymity with the probe and is a former employee of Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Exactly what sort of testimony the witness is providing is not yet clear, but they have reportedly given investigators a picture of the storage room where some of the documents were being kept.
The Times reported that “nearly everyone” who works at Mar-a-Lago has been subpoenaed.
Reportedly, the special counsel has taken interest in security camera footage from Mar-a-Lago as well. Prosecutors have asked who watches over it and who has access to it.
Special Counsel Ramps Up
The investigation is led by Special Counsel Jack Smith. With the revelation of a new witness, it also appears to be escalating.
Smith is looking into whether Trump mishandled the classified documents and whether he personally ordered them to be removed from the storage room after being subpoenaed for their return.
The Presidential Records Act requires exiting presidents to return certain records after the end of their presidency.
After the Department of Justice issued a subpoena to Trump for documents it believed he inappropriately retained, FBI agents executed an initial search warrant at Mar-a-Lago where they discovered classified material last summer.
Trump’s team has portrayed his retention of the documents, which he says are mostly notes from calls with foreign leaders, as inadvertent.
In all, about 100 documents with various levels of classified markings were found among 15 boxes.
“It’s been the same mischaracterization that the media has run with to suggest that President Trump is just sitting on a mountain of documents. It’s not true at all,” lawyer James Trusty said.
The president has the right to take all documents created during their term in office.
I am so sick and tired of not being able to trust our leadership. B U T I think I “get it”. Since we have decided that we WILL NOT have God rule over us – – we truly cannot expect His protection and guidance as a nation. It is a stupid decision to “do life MY way”. Thanks,
Frankie!!