Legal experts and analysts were stunned by the Justice Department’s late-night filing detailing the sensitive documents found at Donald Trump’s home as well as efforts by the former president and his attorneys to stymie the investigation.
The 36-page brief included an image of some of the documents discovered when the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, and counters many of the claims made by Trump’s attorneys.
“This factual recitation has him dead to rights, there’s no question about it,” conservative attorney George Conway said on CNN.
Conway, a longtime Trump critic despite his marriage to Kellyanne Conway, who served in the Trump White House, added that the filing shows the former president is “guilty as sin”:
#TrumpMeltdown EXPLAINED:
— Grant Stern is boosted! (@grantstern) August 31, 2022
“He’s guilty as sin.” - @gtconway3d pic.twitter.com/4T5Zfmm5HD
Other legal insiders and observers found the brief every bit as damning:
If the FBI found these documents in your home, you would go to jail. pic.twitter.com/iQMMuNMrmd
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) August 31, 2022
Insane heart palpitations for anyone who’s ever been in government seeing this picture https://t.co/BkojdQiTYl
— Kate Shaw (@kateashaw1) August 31, 2022
I just read the DOJ motion for the Mar-a-Lago search warrant. Wow did Trump filing his motion for judicial oversight backfire! The DOJ Motion is so damning it could essentially be copy and pasted as an indictment. Trump is the biggest POS traitor.
— Ben Meiselas (@meiselasb) August 31, 2022
The location of the classified documents (in the drawer in Trump's desk) and the fact that they were mixed in with other documents (presumably Trump's personal property) is evidence that Trump was responsible for the willful retention of those documents. https://t.co/X142gHTtOz
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) August 31, 2022
This photo was taken during the Aug 8 search, AFTER trump lawyers signed a letter certifying all classified materials had been returned. It makes me nauseous. pic.twitter.com/Zi9UdRfsaA
— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) August 31, 2022
Some documents were so highly classified, some FBI agents had to get additional clearances to review them. pic.twitter.com/FuQTCnD7Ve
— Matthew Schafer (@MatthewSchafer) August 31, 2022
Call me crazy, but I could see an indictment with Trump and his lawyer(s) as co-defendants.
— Katie S. Phang (@KatiePhang) August 31, 2022
Worth keeping in mind there is still a lot we don't know about the Mar-a-Lago search. For example: What particular documents did Trump have there? Why did he have them? Who accessed them? What witnesses did DOJ have, and what did the witness tell them, that led to the search? https://t.co/kKdWRIJVmd
— Orin Kerr (@OrinKerr) August 31, 2022
As somebody who had a clearance for the better part of 35 years, this picture gives me hives https://t.co/Ef7IXDs5M2
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 31, 2022
These are the secrets that protect our troops. Either you want them protected or believe they should be in the hands of a corrupt man who has used U.S. resources before to help himself. Are you with the troops or Trump? #TroopsOrTrump pic.twitter.com/YuVZ8VAxAE
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 31, 2022
If any other government employee had had this stuff, they would’ve been fired into the Sun. https://t.co/EkkLTuoq7M
— Matt Ford (@fordm) August 31, 2022
Based on its response, I think DOJ and FBI were shocked by the volume and sensitivity of material seized at Mar-a-Lago.
— Brandon Van Grack (@BVanGrack) August 31, 2022
Feels like a good night to RT https://t.co/0kkv6DCOgZ
— Peter Strzok (@petestrzok) August 31, 2022
Ironic that Trump has done to himself exactly what so many people have been urging him to do to himself for years.
— George Conway🌻 (@gtconway3d) August 31, 2022
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.