FBI searched for classified nuclear documents at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: Report

FBI agents who searched former US President Donald Trump’s mansion Mar-a-Lago were looking for classified documents related to America’s nuclear weapons, according to Washington Post reports citing unnamed sources. The raid was carried out on Monday this week.

It is unclear if the documents were found at Trump’s house, which is located in Florida’s Palm Beach. The National Archives have previously alleged that the former President did not turn in all required documents at the end of his term. The FBI was following up on a criminal reference made by the National Archives.

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At least 15 boxes, which were full of documents, were recovered by federal authorities in January this year. These contained pages that were part of special access programs (SAP), which limits information access to only the top authorities, according to CNN.

While the FBI has been receiving threats from Trump supporters after the raid, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said he “personally approved” a request to seek a warrant to search Trump’s home.

The Justice Department has also asked a federal court to unseal the warrant the FBI used to search the Mar-a-Lago estate of Trump, Attorney General Merrick Garland said. He acknowledged the extraordinary public interest in the case about classified records.  

“The public’s clear and powerful interest in understanding what occurred under these circumstances weighs heavily in favor of unsealing,” said a motion filed in federal court in Florida on Thursday.

Also Read: Attorney General Merrick Garland explains FBI raid on Trump’s Florida home

The attorney general also condemned verbal attacks on FBI and Justice Department personnel over the search. Some Republican allies of Trump have called for the FBI to be defunded.

The FBI complex in Ohio’s Cincinnati was attacked on Thursday, days after the search warrant was issued. Ricky Shiffer, who was identified as the suspect, often defended Trump on his social media platforms. Schiffer was killed after a long standoff.