What Happened at Mar-A-Lago?

Trump speaking at CPAC 2011 in D.C. (photo by Gage Skidmore)

By: Nicole Hill, Writer

 

Mar-A-Lago (photo by Christine Davis)

In February 2022, the National Archives, claimed former president Donald Trump had taken 15 boxes that included confidential national documents from his presidency. They claimed that “the documents should have never left D.C.” According to Bloomberg, Trump didn’t give up said documents until he was threatened with legal action by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ emphasizes the legal incident, because  Trump could have violated the Presidential Records Act by not handing over the documents willingly.

The Department of Justice was then asked to intervene by taking the recovered documents to Mar-A-Largo in February and then in April reportedly “probing” them . Investigators traveled back to Mar-A-Lago to take a closer look at the documents and interviewed some of Trump’s aides about the results of the probing. 

Trump and Kevin McCarthy at Mar-A-Lago (photo by Kevin McCarthy)

Afterward, the FBI raided Mar-A-Lago to make sure there weren’t any documents left at the residence. Sources tell CNN news that the FBI was seen taking” boxes of items” as they left. Meanwhile on FOX News Trump’s son, Eric Trump, stated that according to what he was told The National Archives were looking to  “corroborate whether or not Donald Trump had any documents in his possession.” Trump also claims that the agents broke into his safe while raiding, which is yet to be confirmed.

The investigation into Mar-A-Lago and the documents were found to be “likey concealed and removed” in an effort to obstruct the governments investigation according to a court filing provided by an  Allsides article. It’s also speculated the probing results on the documents will be used in trial if one should come about after the claims reported by the Department of Justice. Whether or not Trump is charged on the basis of obstruction, the ongoing investigations into his actions as president will have ramifications for the Oval Office, and Americans at large.