WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal prosecutors are using a grand jury in Florida as part of their investigation into the possible mishandling of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach estate, a person familiar with the matter.
The grand jury joins a separate panel that has been meeting in Washington for months to consider charges against Trump for withholding hundreds of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and potentially obstructing government efforts to recover the records
It is unclear why prosecutors are using an additional grand jury, which was described to The Associated Press by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss secret proceedings, or what witnesses might be testifying before it.
Several witnesses, including Trump lawyers, close associates of the former president and Trump Organization officials, have appeared before the grand jury in Washington over the past year. But the use of a different grand jury in Florida suggests that prosecutors may be looking at at least some potential charges in that state as well.
The Mar-a-Lago investigation, led by special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution team, is believed to be in its final stages, with a charging decision expected soon. Trump’s lawyers met Monday at the Justice Department with officials, including Smith, as part of an effort by the legal team to raise concerns about what they say is prosecutorial misconduct and to try to argue against a possible accusation.
The investigation has focused not only on the possession of classified documents, even at the top secret level, but also on Trump’s refusal to return records when requested and possible obstruction. The FBI last year issued a subpoena for classified records at the property and, after suspecting that Trump and his representatives had not returned all the documents, returned with a search warrant and recovered 100 additional documents with classification marks.
Investigators have questioned a Trump associate who was seen on surveillance camera moving boxes of documents at Mar-a-Lago. As part of an obstruction investigation focused in part on surveillance footage, they have most recently expressed interest in the emptying of a station pool by a worker last October, an act that caused a flood on the property, according to another person who spoke with conditions. of anonymity This area of interest was first reported by CNN.
A spokesman for Smith declined to comment Tuesday night on the existence of another grand jury.
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