The Biden administration authorized the use of lethal force during the FBI's raid on former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 as part of its investigation into classified documents, court documents show.
An “Operations Order,” prepared for discovery as part of Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump's alleged improper retention of classified documents, found that the “FBI believed that the purpose of the Mar-a-Lago raid was to ” to seize classified information, NDI and other classified documents'. U.S. Government Documents,” as described in the search warrant.
According to a court filing, the order included a “statement of policy” regarding “use of deadly force,” which stated, for example, “Department of Justice law enforcement officers may use deadly force if necessary.”
FLASHBACK: TRUMP SAYS MAR-A-LAGO HOME IN FLORIDA 'UNDER SIEGE' BY FBI AGENTS
Former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
According to the filing, the DOJ and FBI agents “intended to take” standard weapons, “ammunition,” “handcuffs” and “medium and large bolt cutters” but were instructed to take “unmarked polo shirts or collared shirts.” to carry. and to “conceal law enforcement equipment.”
Trump, who spent another day in a New York City courtroom for his unprecedented criminal trial following Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation, responded to the revelations on Tuesday afternoon.
“WOW! I just came out of the Biden Witch Hunt trial in Manhattan, the “Icebox,” and was shown reports that Crooked Joe Biden's DOJ, during their illegal and unconstitutional raid on Mar-a-Lago, AUTHORIZED the FBI TO USE LETHAL (LETHAL) FORCE,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social. “NOW WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT JOE BIDEN IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.”
FEDERAL JUDGE POSTPONES TRUMP'S CLASSIFIED RECORDS TRIAL WITHOUT NEW DATE
Trump added: “HE IS MENTALLY UNFIT TO HOLD A CRAFT – 25TH AMENDMENT!”
Trump was left out of Smith's investigation into the retention of classified material. Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 felony charges from Smith's investigation, including intentional withholding of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements.
Trump was also charged with three additional charges as part of a superseding indictment from the investigation: an additional charge of intentionally retaining national defense information and two additional obstruction charges.
Trump pleaded not guilty.
The federal judge presiding over the case, Judge Aileen Cannon of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, indefinitely postponed the trial arising from Smith's case. The trial was scheduled to begin on May 20.
