How prosecutors say Trump shuffled boxes filled with classified documents ... trends now
In the historic federal indictment of Donald Trump unsealed on Friday, prosecutors laid out detailed allegations about how boxes filled with classified information were shuffled around his Mar-a-Lago residence after he left the presidency.
At various times between January 2021 and last August, when the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago, the boxes were stored in ballroom, a bathroom, an office space, Trump's bedroom and a storage room, prosecutors say.
The sweeping 37-count indictment paints a grim portrait of Trump’s treatment of sensitive information, accusing him of intentionally defying Justice Department demands to return documents he had taken from the White House.
Trump was charged alongside Walt Nauta, an aide and close adviser whom prosecutors say ferried boxes of classified information around Mar-a-Lago, and later lied to investigators about the movement.
The indictment points out that, during the 19 months over which the boxes were moved, stacked, spilled, and shuffled, tens of thousands of guests attended events at the Mar-a-Lago club, including weddings, fundraisers and parties.
Prosecutors laid out detailed allegations about how boxes filled with classified information were shuffled around Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence after he left the presidency. At different times, the boxes were stored in the resort's ballroom, a storage room, the Pine Room - an entry room in Trump's residence , the business center and the bathroom of the Lake Room
Prosecutors laid out detailed allegations about how boxes filled with classified information were shuffled around his Mar-a-Lago residence after Trump left the presidency
The sweeping 37-count indictment paints a grim portrait of Trump’s treatment of sensitive information
Trump has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and is due to make his first court appearance on Tuesday in federal court in Miami, where the case was filed.
Here is the timeline of the Mar-a-Lago boxes, according to prosecutors:
January 20, 2021Trump's term as president ended at noon.
As he left office, Trump ordered scores of boxes to be sent from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, his personal residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
Prosecutors say that many of those boxes contained classified documents that he was not authorized to possess after leaving office.
They also note that Mar-a-Lago, in addition to being Trump's residence, is an 'active social club' filled with the comings and goings of thousands of members, employees and guests.
'The Mar-a-Lago Club was not an authorized location for the storage, possession, review, display, or discussion of classified documents,' the indictment states.
'Nevertheless, Trump stored his boxes containing classified documents in various locations at the Mar-a-Lago Club -- including in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage space,' it adds.
January 20 to March 15, 2021'Some' of Trump’s boxes were stored in Mar-a-Lago’s White and Gold Ballroom, where an evidence photo shows them stacked on the ballroom’s stage.
The club's website describes the 'elegant' White & Gold Ballroom as being ideal for 'smaller soirées'.
From January 20 to March 15, 2021 some of Trump’s boxes were stored in Mar-a-Lago’s White and Gold Ballroom, where this evidence photo shows them stacked on the ballroom’s stage
Trump was charged alongside Walt Nauta (above), an aide and close adviser who prosecutors say ferried boxes of classified information around Mar-a-Lago
For reasons unspecified in the indictment, Nauta and other employees moved Trump’s boxes from the ballroom to the business center at the Mar-a-Lago Club.
April 5, 2021In a text message, a Trump employee asked another employee about the possibility of moving boxes from business center to storage, so staff could use the business center as an office.
The second employee responded with concern, writing: 'Whoa!! Ok so potus specifically asked Walt for those boxes to be in the business center because they are his "papers."'
In further text exchanges, the employees agreed to move some of the boxes into 'a little room in the shower where his other stuff is' off the club's Lake Room.
Some of the boxes were then moved from the business center to a bathroom and shower in Mar-a-Lago’s Lake Room.
In April 2021, boxes were moved into a bathroom and shower in Mar-a-Lago’s Lake Room
Trump ordered that a storage room on ground floor of Mar-a-Lago club be cleaned out to store the boxes
The storage room has multiple entries, including one from a hallway that opened on the Mar-a-Lago Club pool patio, through a door that was often unlocked.
The storage room was located near the liquor supply closet, linen room, lock shop and various other rooms.
Also at this point, some boxes are moved to Trump's Bedminster Club in New Jersey, where he typically spends his summers.
Prosecutors say that the Bedminster Club is
