Ex-White House Aide: Trump’s Declassified Documents Had to Do With ‘Russiagate’

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

A former top Department of Defense official, Kash Patel, said the FBI may have taken documents relating to the Russia–Trump collusion investigation.

Amid a tussle between Trump and the National Archives, Patel said in a recent interview that documents that were stored at Mar-a-Lago marked as classified were declassified when he left office. Federal officials will have a difficult time proving that those documents were not declassified, he said.

“The bottom line was he said this information has to get out to the American public,” Patel told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published on Sunday morning. Patel said he did not know what was in the boxes that FBI agents took from Trump’s home.

“It had to do with Russiagate. It had to do with the Hillary email scandal. It had to do with a whole lot of other stuff. And [Trump] said, ‘This is all declassified,’” Patel remarked, challenging a central claim made by the Justice Department that urgent action had to be taken because sensitive material was at risk.

So far, neither the Department of Justice nor the FBI has offered a public explanation about why the FBI agents targeted a former president’s home or what they were looking for. The Epoch Times has contacted the DOJ and FBI for comment.

A warrant and property receipt that were unsealed more than a week ago by U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart showed that agents took 11 boxes of allegedly classified documents, although it’s not clear what those documents entailed. The warrant showed Trump was being probed for possible Espionage Act violations and obstruction of justice.

Republicans, Trump, and some media outlets have called for the DOJ’s affidavit—a legal document that would explain why the agency sought an FBI search warrant—to be released. During a hearing last week, Reinhart ordered the DOJ to submit the affidavit with proposed redactions, which he would then review before he would consider releasing the document to the public.

More Details

Trump posted on Truth Social on Aug. 18 that he declassified a range of documents relating to the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation. At the same time, Trump and Patel have said that the former president had a standing declassification order.

By Jack Phillips

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Kamala, Please Run Again

Kamala Harris hinted she wants to run for President in 2028, despite poor poll numbers and her loss in 2024. If she runs, the big winners will be the GOP.

Rosie O’Donnell vs. Her Therapist

Rosie O’Donnell's therapist attempted to artfully introduce to her client to the possibility that Rosie's outrage might be performative. It didn’t take.

Hamas’s Stubborn Grip on Arms Signals No Desire for Genuine Peace

Hamas’s rhetoric reflects its founding ideology, prioritizing armed resistance over civilian welfare or diplomatic progress.

Off the radar

In the longstanding and brutal ledger of religious persecution, Nigeria now occupies its own grim chapter with its enduring pogrom against Christians.

The New Jackboots? A Wake-Up Call on Antifa and Fascism

An analysis of whether Antifa truly opposes fascism by comparing its tactics and behavior to historical signs and movements of fascist regimes.

Louisiana GOP State Lawmaker Announces Run Against Incumbent U.S. Senator

Louisiana Rep. Julie Emerson launches a campaign against Sen. Bill Cassidy, entering the state’s first Republican primary race in 50 years.

Trump Says His MRI Test Performed at Walter Reed Was ‘Perfect’

“I did,” Trump confirmed. “I got an MRI. It was perfect. I gave you the full results. We had an MRI, in the machine … the whole thing.”

Fox News to Air First TV Interview With Erika Kirk Following Husband’s Assassination

Erika Kirk, new CEO of Turning Point USA, will give her first TV interview next month, two months after the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk.

Judge Rules Charlie Kirk Assassination Suspect Can Wear Civilian Clothes in Pretrial Hearings

A judge ruled on Oct. 27 that the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk last month can appear in civilian clothing during all pre-trial hearings.

Trump Hikes Canada’s Tariffs by 10 Percent for Not Pulling Anti-Tariff Ad Immediately

Trump announced he will increase tariffs on Canada by 10% after ad by provincial government of Ontario misrepresented President Reagan’s speech on tariffs.

Trump Rolls Back Emissions Rules on Copper Smelters

President Trump issued a proclamation aimed at reversing a Biden-era environmental rule that enforced stricter air emission standards on copper smelters.

Donor Gives $130 Million to Cover Shortfall in Troop Pay During Shutdown

Trump announced on Oct. 23 that an anonymous donor sent $130M to cover military pay during the ongoing government shutdown.

‘Frustration’ With Canada Led to Trump Scrapping Talks, Not Just Ontario’s Ad: US Official

President Trump cited Ontario’s TV ad as the reason for halting Canada trade talks, but officials say it stems from rising U.S. frustration with Ottawa.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central