DOJ says Trump team likely 'concealed and removed' classified docs at Mar-a-Lago

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department said Tuesday night that it had evidence classified documents at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate were "likely concealed and removed" before the FBI search to retrieve them.

In its late-night court filing, the Justice Department said that Trump's request to appoint a special master to review the documents “is unnecessary and would significantly harm important governmental interests, including national security interests.”

Some of the documents were so sensitive and classified that FBI agents and Justice Department attorneys needed additional security clearances to review them after the raid earlier this month.

The department also argues that it gathered evidence “that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation,” with government records “likely concealed and removed” in the months leading up to the search.

The Justice Department attempted to bolster its case to the court by including an FBI photo showing documents and "classified cover sheets recovered from a container" in Trump's "45 office," a reference to his being the 45th president. The photo shows documents marked “secret,” “top secret” and “SCI” — which stands for highly classified “sensitive compartmented information.”