Estados Unidos divulgó los documentos que explican la decisión de allanar la residencia de Donald Trump en Mar-a-Lago / Trump Official Calls Affidavit ‘Overtly Political’
Los abogados del Departamento de Justicia se habían opuesto, pero un juez ordenó que se hiciera público con la edición que ese ministerio consideró necesaria para proteger una investigación relacionada con la seguridad nacional
La Fiscalía de EEUU divulgó este viernes una versión editada del documento en el que se exponen las razones que justificaron el registro a comienzos de este mes en la casa del ex presidente Donald Trump (2017-2021) en Florida por agentes del FBI.
La llamada “declaración jurada” se hizo pública con gran parte del texto oculto y con muchos tramos cubiertos luego de que el juez federal Bruce E. Reinhart, con tribunal en Florida, autorizará el jueves la difusión de una versión reducida.
El Departamento de Justicia (DOJ, en inglés) presentó al juez esta versión reducida del llamado “Affidavit” (en inglés) tras advertir en una audiencia del pasado 18 de agosto los riesgos a la “seguridad nacional” de la divulgación completa del texto.
Entre esos riesgos, la Fiscalía alude este viernes a la necesidad de no difundir las identidades de los testigos, dado que “podrían sufrir daños, como represalias, intimidación o acoso, e incluso amenazas a su seguridad física”.
El documento de la orden del Departamento de Justicia que justificó el hallanamiento al ex presidente de EEUU, Donald Trump (U.S. Department of Justice/Handout via REUTERS)
La versión no editada de la declaración jurada explicaría en detalle lo que el departamento está investigando en relación a Trump y posiblemente revelaría algunas fuentes.
Pero el juez Reinhart aceptó los argumentos del departamento de Justicia de que había una necesidad “apremiante” de ocultar partes significativas del documento.
La orden judicial para la redada citó tres estatutos penales, incluido uno que se rige por la Ley de Espionaje, que tipifica como delito obtener o retener ilegalmente información de seguridad nacional, y otro sobre la obstrucción de una investigación federal.
“No hice nada malo”
Tras la difusión de los documentos, Trump reaccionó con las razones que justificaron el registro de su mansión de Florida asegurando que no hizo “nada malo” y que lo sucedido es “un ataque político”.
“No hice nada malo. Básicamente hemos sido atacados, fuimos allanados. Abrieron las cajas fuertes, llevaron a muchos, muchos agentes del FBI, todo justo antes de las elecciones de medio mandato” de noviembre, publicó en su red, Truth Social.
Trump subrayó que la declaración jurada hecha pública está “muy editada” y sin ninguna mención sobre armamento “nuclear” y tachó por ello lo sucedido de “subterfugio total de relaciones públicas por parte del FBI y del Departamento de Justicia”.
“Estos matones políticos no tenían derecho bajo la Ley de Registros Presidenciales a asaltar Mar-a-Lago y robar todo lo que estuviera a la vista, incluidos pasaportes y documentos privilegiados”, añadió Trump. Y añadió: “¡En este momento estamos viviendo en un país sin ley, que resulta ser, también, una nación fallida!”.
El ex presidente presentó una demanda el lunes instando a un tribunal a nombrar a una parte independiente para revisar los archivos incautados en la redada del FBI en busca de materiales protegidos por privilegio personal. Ello podría potencialmente bloquear el acceso de los investigadores a los documentos.
El ex presidente no presentó su demanda ante el tribunal federal de Fort Lauderdale, Florida, que fue el que emitió la orden original, sino en el más distante Fort Pierce, cuyo único juez fue designado por él.
A continuación, el documento completo publicado este viernes:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y3H4gAtJ-NNzrL6sfcD7GMToOZ2KiSVw/preview
Con información de AFP, EFE
Trump Official Calls Affidavit ‘Overtly Political’
- The Department of Justice has released a heavily redacted affidavit used to justify the search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, on August 8.
- The decision to unseal the affidavit, made on Thursday by Judge Bruce Reinhart, came hours after the DOJ submitted its proposal for redactions in an effort to shield witnesses from intimidation or retribution.
- Ahead of the decision, Trump and many of his allies called for the full version of the affidavit to be released.
- On Monday, the former president filed a lawsuit against the DOJ asking for a special master be appointed to review seized materials.
- Sources told Newsweek that the raid was based on a tip that authorities received from an informer who knew the type of documents Trump kept.
Trump Official Calls Affidavit ‘Overtly Political’
A spokesperson for former President Donald Trump commented on the release of the affidavit used in applying for the warrant that allowed the FBI to search Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home earlier this month.
Taylor Budowich, the director of communications for Trump’s office and the former president’s Save America PAC, called the affidavit “overtly political” in a statement posted after the document was unsealed Friday afternoon.
“The release of a heavily redacted, overtly political affidavit only proves that the Biden administration is desperate to cover up their unprecedented, unnecessary, and un-American raid against President Donald J. Trump,” Budowich said.
A second tweet from Budowich said the situation was “a grave travesty” and said the visible sections of the document “only further supports President Trump’s position, there was NO reason for a raid – it is all politics!”
The affidavit, several parts of which were redacted upon request from the Department of Justice, shared details on what led federal authorities to begin its investigation into the handling of presidential documents earlier this year.
Boxes Sent to National Archives Had 184 Classified Documents
The 15 boxes former President Donald Trump’s office sent the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in January contained several documents, including 184 that had “classified markings,” according to the affidavit unsealed on Friday.
NARA received the boxes on January 18 and contacted the Department of Justice (DOJ) a few weeks later to alert federal officials that some “highly classified documents” were included with other materials. FBI agents then reviewed the 15 boxes from May 16 to 18, according to the affidavit, and found several documents marked as classified within 14 of the boxes.
The FBI shared approximations for how many documents were “confidential,” “secret” and “top secret.” About 184 classified documents were reviewed in all, including 67 “confidential” documents, 92 identified as “secret” and 25 that were “top secret.”
The FBI special agent who argued within the affidavit in favor of searching Mar-a-Lago, an official whose name was redacted, cited their “training and experience” in saying they “know that documents classified at these levels typically contain NDI,” or national defense information.
The affidavit said the boxes also seemed to contain “several” of Trump’s “handwritten notes.”
Trump Slams Judge for Allowing Mar-a-Lago Raid
Former President Donald Trump slammed Judge Bruce Reinhart for allowing the raid at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, earlier this month.
Trump released a statement on Truth Social about one hour after the redacted affidavit was released.
“Affidavit heavily redacted!!!” Trump wrote Friday afternoon. “Nothing mentioned on “nuclear,” a total public relations subterfuge by the FBI & DOJ, or our close working relationship regarding document turnover – WE GAVE THEM MUCH.”
“Judge Bruce Reinhart should NEVER have allowed the break-in of my home,” Trump said. “He recused himself two months ago from one of my cases based on his animosity and hatred of your favorite President, me. What changed? Why hasn’t he recused himself on this case? Obama must be very proud of him right now!”
Affidavit Explains Why Investigation Began
The redacted affidavit unsealed on Friday explained what started the federal investigation that ultimately led FBI agents to search former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home on August 8.
The affidavit, which was dated as being received by federal Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on August 5, started by saying the federal government “is conducting a criminal investigation concerning the improper removal and storage of classified information in unauthorized spaces, as well as the unlawful concealment or removal of government records.”
The investigation started after the National Archives and Records Administration (FBI) alerted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in February that it received “highly classified documents” as part of a set of 15 boxes of materials Trump’s office sent NARA in January.
The affidavit said the FBI then opened its investigation following “an initial review of the NARA referral” so it could “determine how the documents with classification markings and records were removed from the White House” or other approved storage spots and wound up at Mar-a-Lago.
The investigation was also looking into “whether any additional classified documents or records may have been stored in an unauthorized location” and if they were still there, as well as “identify any person(s) who may have removed or retained classified information without authorization and/or in an unauthorized space,” the affidavit said.
Heavily Redacted Affidavit Released
The redacted affidavit used to justify the search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home Mar-a-Lago earlier this month has been released.
The document is heavily redacted, with several pages of text blacked out.
“The government is conducting a criminal investigation concerning the improper removal and storage of classified information in unauthorized spaces, as well as the unlawful concealment or removal of govermnent records,” the affidavit begins.
The redacted affidavit was released shortly after 12 p.m. ET Friday afternoon.
Judge Signs Order to Unseal Redacted Affidavit
Federal Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart has officially ordered the release of the affidavit used in the FBI’s August 8 search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.
The version of the document that will be released is expected to be heavily redacted.
Reinhart, the magistrate judge who signed off on the FBI’s initial search warrant earlier this month, signed the order allowing the affidavit to be unsealed on Friday.
The redacted document is expected to be released to the public shortly.
Mark Meadows Called to Testify in GA Election Probe
The Fulton County district attorney has called upon additional allies of former President Donald Trump to testify in Georgia’s election interference probe.
Thursday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed petitions to hear testimony from Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows and lawyer Sidney Powell, the Associated Press reports.
The petitions ask both to testify before a special grand jury in Atlanta next month.
The district attorney said Meadows and Powell have “unique knowledge” of their communications with the former pesident, his campaign and others regarding attempts to influence the 2020 election in Georgia.
“Involved in the multi-state, coordinated efforts to influence the results of the November 2020 elections in Georgia and elsewhere,” Willis wrote, according to the AP.
Several others were recently subpoenaed to testify, including Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Giuliani testified before the special grand jury earlier this month. Graham continues to fight his subpoena in court.
Redacted Mar-a-Lago Affidavit Expected Soon
The affidavit used to explain why federal authorities requested permission to search former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home is expected to be released within the hour.
The document will likely have several redactions, a result of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) earlier opposition to having it released to the public. Major media outlets had argued in favor of having the affidavit unsealed.
Bruce Reinhart is the federal magistrate judge who initially signed off on the FBI’s August 8 search and who has presided over decisions regarding whether to unseal search-related documents. The search warrant and the property receipt listing items FBI agents took from Mar-a-Lago were both released earlier this month.
In its argument against releasing the affidavit, the DOJ said making its contents public was “highly likely to compromise future investigative steps” due to the possibility of revealing information about witnesses. The DOJ is expected to have redacted some witness-related information to prevent their identities from being recognized and enable cooperation to continue as the investigation proceeds, according to the Associated Press.
The information that is visible could provide insight into how federal agents arrived at their decision to take the historic step of searching a former president’s private residence.
Reinhart has instructed the DOJ to release its redacted version of the affidavit by 12 p.m. ET today.
BY DARRAGH ROCHE , MEGHAN ROOS AND ALEX BACKUS ON 8/26/22 AT 6:37 AM EDT
more information in source original
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-news-live-warrant-affidavit-today-news-release-doj-1737245
