DOJ Says Classified Documents at Mar-a-Lago 'Likely Concealed and Removed’

The Justice Department said Tuesday that former President Donald Trump likely hid classified records before the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago, and pushed back on his request for a special master to review the seized materials.

A late-night court filing from the DOJ said the classified records at Mar-a-Lago "were likely concealed and removed" before the search, and that "efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation." It also says Trump's request for a special master "is unnecessary and would significantly harm important governmental interests, including national security interests."

The filing said that over 100 documents in 13 boxes or containers with classification markings were seized from the property, including three classified documents that were taken from the desks in Trump’s office. It also featured a photo of several folders recovered from Mar-a-Lago marked "Top Secret" or "Secret." Trump maintains that he cooperated fully with the government efforts to recover classified materials in the months before the raid, and that he declassified the documents before leaving office. His legal team has requested that a third party review the seized materials to sort out any protected by attorney-client privilege or executive privilege, a task the DOJ says it has already completed.

News outlets across the political spectrum, especially left- and center-rated sources, prominently covered the DOJ's filing and allegations against Trump.