Trump's Classified Docs Theft: Mar-A-Lago, FBI Subpoenas, Searches & Seizures - DOJ, Garland, GOP Madness - Spy Hard

[Kriselda Gray]

From the discussion so far I take it that the prior guy can only be liable under espionage and nuclear laws, not of mishandling classified government documents. It was explained that classified document handling was defined by presidential EO.

I think he has to actually issue the EO, though, prior to any changes taking place. I doubt he can do it retroactively.

[much ado]

From the discussion so far I take it that the prior guy can only be liable under espionage and nuclear laws, not of mishandling classified government documents. It was explained that classified document handling was defined by presidential EO.

I think he has to actually issue the EO, though, prior to any changes taking place. I doubt he can do it retroactively.

I think RTH was referring to this EO, issued by President Obama, December 2009:

Executive Order 13526- Classified National Security Information

And I think the question is whether succeeding presidents are bound by this existing EO.

(But I could be wrong about all this...)

[Kriselda Gray]

Gotcha, thanks!

[Sam the Centipede]

I think he has to actually issue the EO, though, prior to any changes taking place. I doubt he can do it retroactively.

Perhaps he can: Trump is an Ex-President, so he can issue an Ex-Ecutive Order!

[Kriselda Gray]

I think he has to actually issue the EO, though, prior to any changes taking place. I doubt he can do it retroactively.

Perhaps he can: Trump is an Ex-President, so he can issue an Ex-Ecutive Order!

[Chilidog]

Has anyone noticed that Mar-a-Lago went from being Trump's private, exclusive club for wealthy members only to being his "home"?

Oh, a lot of us noticed that, especially since that was a violation of the agreement allowing Merde-Lardo to be built*.

*not sure if built is the right word here

I seem to remember that there was some rationale that was used and the City Attorney declined to pursue the matter and enforce the clause in the permit that was issued when he created the private club.

it turned out that there is a loophole in the zoning ordinance that allows “full time employees” to live on site.

intended for groundskeepers and the like, nevertheless, the city declined to pursue it.

[Chilidog]

i’m not a big fan of the Palmer Report, but in this case, i think he’s nailed it with a nice summary of the investigation status

[Foggy]

Well, except plenty has happened in public view: insane rantings by the anti-intelligentsia pro-Trumpers, threats and attempted violence nationwide against FBI agents, plenty of public pronouncements by the criminal who was elected president, yadda, yadda, yadda.

If he's saying life has been boring, it hasn't. Earthlings are everywhere, being as entertaining as possible. In public view.

Oh, wait ... he means what the FBI and DOJ are doing. No, you can't see that.

[Kendra]

Patel: The Government Services Administration is responsible for packaging and parceling those documents. They were the one who moved those documents to Mar-a-Lago.. Even if they get past the declassification farce.. it’s not like President Trump put them in a backpack.

[tek]

"Government Services Administration" ??

Is that like Four Seasons Total Landscaping?

[bill_g]

Everybody but him were at fault.

Adolf wept.

[Kendra]

Patel: In October of 2020, President Trump put out for the world to see a sweeping declassification order and he did it via social media.. In December and January, I witnessed him declassify whole sets of documents…

[chancery]

Judge Reinhart has issued an order concerning unsealing the probable cause affidavit. There’s a link in this tweet from @emptywheel

Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart seems to be thinking seriously about keeping the entire Trump affidavit sealed. One reason he gave that USG did not: It includes details abt Mar-a-Lago, which is protected by Secret Service.

[Chilidog]

Patel: The Government Services Administration is responsible for packaging and parceling those documents. They were the one who moved those documents to Mar-a-Lago..

I saw somewhere recently were it was claimed / admitted that some of those documents had accumulated at Mal-a-Lardo over the course of the enire presidential term, and not just moved in January of 2021.

Also, I'm sure the GSA just gave the WH staff a bunch of banker's boxes and said "have at it." The staff was responsible for putting the stuff in the boxes.

[Uninformed]

I know it sounds stupid, but did tfg and his legal masterminds, for whatever reason, think that documents that had been taken to his “home” during his presidency weren’t covered by the retrieval efforts (or possibly, wouldn’t be known about)?

[RVInit]

I doubt that anything that was not present in the private Presidential quarters of the White House building should have gone to the former President's private residence. Why would any government agency be involved or responsible for packing TFG's personal belongings when he moved from the White House?

Anything that was not in the private quarters should not have gone home with TFG.

I am more inclined to believe that there was a combination of boxes that had already been taken to Mar-a-Lago and not brought back to the White House prior to Jan 20, 2021 and items that should not have been in the private residence that were in the private residence and got put into boxes intentionally because he thought he could take anything he wanted to take.

I bet that every President is briefed on how the transfer of items to Presidential libraries works, and the TFG didn't like that either. He just doesn't seem to like law and order unless it's being used to subjugate "them".

[Suranis]

Patel is so full of shit he cant give handshakes lest it squirt out his ears.

Quite aside from all that, the GSA actually has a page dedicated to its role in Presidential trasnsistions. Nowhere does it say "packing up documents and shipping them to Loser's gold clubs"

https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/mission-an ... ransitions

GSA's Role in Presidential Transitions

The transfer of power from one Administration to the next marks a significant moment in U.S. history. Since 1963, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has held a prominent role in the peaceful transition of authority between the incoming and outgoing Administrations in accordance with the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, as amended. As transition-focused legislation has been amended to improve the presidential transition process, GSA’s role has grown and evolved. During a Presidential transition, GSA will prepare to provide support to the eligible candidates, President-elect and Vice-President-elect, Inter-agency Transition, Presidential Inauguration, and the outgoing President and Vice-President. Support for the President-elect and Vice-President-elect and the outgoing President and Vice-President are only provided in the event of a change of Administration.

Support to the Eligible Candidates
GSA provides, upon request, services and facilities to each eligible candidate for use in preparing to assume their official duties. Those services and facilities include suitable office space appropriately equipped with furniture, furnishings, office and IT equipment, and incidental office supplies.

Support to the President-elect and Vice-President-elect
GSA provides, upon request, services and facilities to each President-elect and Vice-President-elect for use in preparing to assume their official duties. Those services and facilities include: a suitable office space appropriately equipped with furniture, furnishings, office and IT equipment, office supplies, parking, fleet vehicles, and mail management; payment of compensation for office staffs; payment of expenses for the procurement of experts or consultants and communication services; and payment of travel, subsistence, printing, postal, and other expenses as necessary and appropriate. These services are only provided in the event of a change of Administration.

Support for Inter-agency Transition
GSA, through the Federal Transition Coordinator, ensures that the Federal Government has an integrated strategy for addressing inter-agency challenges and responsibilities around Presidential transitions and turnover of non-career appointees. Guidance is provided to agencies in gathering briefing materials and information relating to the Presidential transition that may be requested by eligible candidates as well as on succession planning. Inter-agency coordination is facilitated through the Agency Transition Directors Council, which the Federal Transition Coordinator co-chairs.

Support for Inter-agency Transition
GSA, through the Federal Transition Coordinator, ensures that the Federal Government has an integrated strategy for addressing inter-agency challenges and responsibilities around Presidential transitions and turnover of non-career appointees. Guidance is provided to agencies in gathering briefing materials and information relating to the Presidential transition that may be requested by eligible candidates as well as on succession planning. Inter-agency coordination is facilitated through the Agency Transition Directors Council, which the Federal Transition Coordinator co-chairs.

Support to the Outgoing President and Vice-President
The GSA provides, upon request, services and facilities in support of the transition of each outgoing President and Vice-President. Those services and facilities include space, communication systems, IT support, financial management, human resources management, telephones, parking, furniture, vehicles, office equipment, mail management, and administrative support services (such as payroll, financial services, and contracting). The GSA also works with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), as necessary, to provide support to the former Presidents in the establishment and maintenance of their libraries. These services are only provided in the event of a change of Administration.

[Volkonski]

Have Trump or his minions done anything about establishing a DJT presidential library?

[Slim Cognito]

I have a feeling it will be an exhibit at his Doral Club once Eric turns it into a casino.

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Be vewy quiet. Maybe there won't be a library.

[Foggy]

I know it sounds stupid, but did tfg and his legal masterminds, for whatever reason, think that documents that had been taken to his “home” during his presidency weren’t covered by the retrieval efforts (or possibly, wouldn’t be known about)?

No, because the government made a lot of efforts to retrieve them, and they explained clearly that the documents belonged to the United States of America.

But he's a thief, so he tried to keep them.

[Foggy]

Off Topic

A math teacher in my high school told us that a quarter of people never steal anything, 50% will steal if they are certain they won't be caught, and the remaining quarter will steal anything they can get their grubby hands on.

I'm trying to decide where Trump fits in that assessment ...

[Uninformed]

I have no idea of the conversations that took place or the wording of any communications regarding the documents, but tfg etc thought they could get away with keeping them. As to whether any/all of the documents were taken to Mar-a-Lago during tfg’s presidency, not when he vacated the White House, their presence in boxes supposedly part of the move suggest otherwise but we do not know who has had access to the boxes or what their contents were at any given time. I have not seen the subpoena that the was served; has it been published?

[Foggy]

I have not seen the subpoena that the was served; has it been published?

I have a list of what they took:

• instructions on how to build nuclear weapons
• list of all our agents in foreign countries
• location of Jimmy Hoffa's body
• top secret formula for Coca-Cola
• treasure map signed by Blackbeard
• the real birth certificate
• Putin's cell phone number
• complete details on Area 51

.

Haven't seen that officially released yet, though. Probably later this afternoon.

[Sam the Centipede]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Be vewy quiet. Maybe there won't be a library.

Of course there will be: it will surely be housed on the campus of Trump University, probably in its Faculty of Political Science and International Relations.

What's that? No Trump U. any more? Oh dear. How about housing the library at the headquarters of Trump Steaks?

Whaaaat? No steaks?

Perhaps the pillow guy would look after the boxes?