Investigators from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office have interviewed multiple individuals regarding a closet and what has been described as a “concealed chamber” within former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
Overlooked Areas
Sources told ABC News that the FBI agents overlooked these areas during their search of the estate in August 2022.
Additional Classified Documents
During several interviews conducted before former President Donald Trump’s indictment on classified document charges last year, the nature of the inquiries implied that Smith’s team was exploring the possibility of additional classified documents still being present at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
Investigation Continued
The investigation continued despite the FBI’s previous seizure of numerous boxes and over 100 documents marked as classified from the same location.
Legal Action Against Trump
Smith is pursuing legal action against Trump for retaining government documents following his departure from the White House. The indictment accuses Trump of taking classified documents upon leaving office and deliberately impeding the federal government’s attempts to recover them.
Espionage Act Violation
Trump faces over three dozen charges in a federal court in Florida, including 30 violations of the Espionage Act. The former president has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
Revisiting Unexamined Locked Closet
Some members of the investigative team, later in the investigation, came to the opinion that the locked closet, which had not been examined during the initial search, should have been unlocked and inspected.
Closet Lock Replacement
Subsequently, investigators discovered that Trump reportedly had the lock on the closet replaced while his attorney was in the basement of Mar-a-Lago, searching for classified documents in a storage room he believed would contain all such materials.
Smith’s Florida Indictment
These alleged actions by Trump, aimed at concealing classified documents from both the FBI and his own attorney, constitute the main component of Smith’s indictment against Trump in Florida.
Expert Critique
Former Justice Department official Jordan Strauss expressed surprise at the missed search opportunities to ABC News.
Strauss said, “You’re searching a former president’s house. You [should] get it right the first time,”
Missed Opportunities
The investigation also neglected a “hidden room” linked to Trump’s bedroom.
FBI’s Defense
An FBI official defended the search strategy, stating it was based on targeted information and met the search warrant’s scope.
Legal Pressures
Federal prosecutors urged Trump’s legal representatives to confirm the absence of any remaining classified documents across Trump’s estates amid uncertainties about the unsearched areas.
New Warrant?
However, it remains unclear whether Trump ever stored classified documents in either of those locations and whether the team considered obtaining another warrant for a subsequent search of Mar-a-Lago.
Campaign Response
A Trump campaign spokesperson dismissed the investigations as political interference, aiming to undermine his candidacy.
FBI’s Preparedness Questioned
Strauss noted the unusual nature of the FBI’s operational decisions, contrasting it with the agency’s reputation for meticulous planning and execution.
Wray Praises Search Professionals
During his testimony before Congress last year, FBI Director Chris Wray emphasized the professionalism exhibited by the agents during the search.
Closet Lock Challenge
However, when the agents reached the locked closet near the front of Trump’s residence, they encountered difficulty in finding a key for it. They were informed that the space behind the locked door, originally an old stairwell converted into a closet with shelves, led to nowhere, leading them to opt against forcibly breaking it open.
Subpoena and Search Dynamics
The indictment against the former president outlines that before legal counsel could fully inspect, documents were moved under Trump’s direction, complicating the search for subpoenaed materials.
Concealed Rooms Revealed
The existence of a hidden room, unknown to the FBI during their search, came to light only afterward.
Trump’s Defense and Plea
Trump has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he did not violate the law by retaining the documents subsequently confiscated by the FBI. He has entered a not guilty plea to contest the charges filed against him.
Aides Charged in Document Case
Walt Nauta, a Trump aide, and Carlos De Oliveira, the manager of the Mar-a-Lago estate, have also been implicated in the case, accused of aiding in the relocation of boxes filled with documents and for their purported involvement in Trump’s conspiracy. They have both pleaded not guilty.
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