Empty 'Classified' Folders Among Items Taken from Trump

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Facts

  • On Fri., the inventory of items seized by the FBI's Aug. 8 search of former Pres. Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence was unsealed by a US District Judge who is overseeing the request by Trump's attorneys to appoint a 'special master.'
  • The inventory, filed earlier in the week under seal by the Dept. of Justice (DOJ), revealed more than 10K govt. documents and photographs without classification markings that were removed.
  • This includes empty folders marked "classified" that were empty. In addition, there were also dozens of empty folders marked "Return to Staff Secretary/Military Aide."
  • The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is conducting a risk assessment to determine any national security risks the improper storage of these documents may have caused, but signals are that, for now, the material has not been otherwise compromised.
  • The unsealing of the inventory comes in the same week the DOJ accused Trump and his advisers of failing to turn over highly classified govt. documents, even after they were subpoenaed. The DOJ also accused Trump's team of misrepresentation when it assured them that all White House records were within a storage room.
  • Trump has claimed the documents are protected by executive privilege, and that he declassified them while president. But the filing says his lawyers never asserted either claim.

Sources: NBC, Politico, Guardian, and FOX News.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by CNN. The DOJ has presented its strongest case yet against Trump, and the former president is clearly in hot water for not turning over these documents and obstructing justice. It's only a matter of time before he's held accountable.
  • Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Townhall. This is a continuation of the DOJ's effort to nail Trump on anything it can. They'll likely be able to add this to a growing list of failed attempts to take him down considering the search of Trump's home was unlawful, he has the right to maintain his presidential documents, and has the power to declassify them as he likes.