An aerial view of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. AP
An aerial view of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. AP
An aerial view of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. AP
An aerial view of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. AP

Trump being investigated for potentially violating Espionage Act, obstruction of justice


Patrick deHahn
  • English
  • Arabic

Former US president Donald Trump is being investigated for potentially violating the Espionage Act and obstructing justice, an unsealed FBI search warrant showed on Friday.

The warrant also says the bureau is investigating Mr Trump for the removal or destruction of records.

It states “property to be seized” at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, included “all physical documents and records constituting evidence, contraband, fruits of crime or other items illegally possessed in violation of” the crimes being investigated.

On Monday, federal agents searched Mar-a-Lago and the unsealed warrant states the FBI removed about 20 boxes from the premises.

There were 11 sets of classified documents taken, including one box labelled "Various classified/TS/SCI documents," which refers to information that requires the highest level of security clearance to obtain.

"SCI" documents are "sensitive compartmented information," or some of the nation's most sensitive material that mandates protection in approved settings or facilities.

The Espionage Act, which Mr Trump is being investigated for, prohibits possessing national security information that could be used against the country or aid a foreign adversary.

Individuals like government whistleblower Edward Snowden and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange have been charged for violating the Espionage Act.

It poses a prison sentence of up to ten years.

Additionally, there were four boxes that included “miscellaneous top secret documents” and three with “confidential documents”.

Another included “info re: President of France”.

The Washington Post reported that there were concerns that documents relating to US nuclear weapons were being held in Mar-a-Lago.

  • Supporters of former US president Donald Trump protest against the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. South Florida Sun-Sentinel / AP
    Supporters of former US president Donald Trump protest against the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. South Florida Sun-Sentinel / AP
  • Trump supporters demonstrate outside Mar-a-Lago. Bloomberg
    Trump supporters demonstrate outside Mar-a-Lago. Bloomberg
  • Trump supporters wave flags and hold signs outside Mar-a-Lago after the FBI carried out a search warrant at the former president's residence. EPA
    Trump supporters wave flags and hold signs outside Mar-a-Lago after the FBI carried out a search warrant at the former president's residence. EPA
  • Mr Trump is facing intensified legal and political pressure after FBI agents searched his Florida home to investigate whether he took classified documents from the White House when he left office. Bloomberg
    Mr Trump is facing intensified legal and political pressure after FBI agents searched his Florida home to investigate whether he took classified documents from the White House when he left office. Bloomberg
  • Supporters of Mr Trump demonstrate outside Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. Bloomberg
    Supporters of Mr Trump demonstrate outside Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. Bloomberg
  • A Trump supporter waves a flag outside Mar-a-Lago. Bloomberg
    A Trump supporter waves a flag outside Mar-a-Lago. Bloomberg
  • A Trump supporter drives past the former president's estate. AP
    A Trump supporter drives past the former president's estate. AP
  • Trump supporters, members of the media and law enforcement gather near Mar-a-Lago. The Palm Beach Post / AP
    Trump supporters, members of the media and law enforcement gather near Mar-a-Lago. The Palm Beach Post / AP
  • A flag flies in the air near former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. AP
    A flag flies in the air near former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. AP
  • A Trump supporter holds the Betsy Ross flag at a gathering outside the former president's Mar-a-Lago home. Reuters
    A Trump supporter holds the Betsy Ross flag at a gathering outside the former president's Mar-a-Lago home. Reuters

“I personally approved the decision to seek a search warrant,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed in a news conference on Thursday, when he also stated he had formally requested the unsealing of the warrant.

The US Department of Justice on Friday said Mr Trump did not object to the public release of the FBI warrant.

He posted on his Truth Social media platform on Thursday that he was “encouraging the immediate release of those documents”.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

MATCH INFO

What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)

Episode list:

Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery 

Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges 

Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic 

Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks 

Ep5: Travel and tourism 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them

Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand

Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat  

Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar

Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices

Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants

Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique

Updated: August 13, 2022, 3:59 AM