WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors are using a grand jury in Florida. Investigation into mishandling of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach property, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday night.
The grand jury is in addition to a separate panel that has been meeting in Washington for months to consider charges against Trump over the possession of hundreds of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and possible obstruction of the government’s efforts to retrieve the records.
It’s unclear why prosecutors are using the extra grand jury, which was described to The Associated Press by a person who insisted on anonymity to discuss the undercover proceedings, or which witnesses may testify before it.
Various witnesses, including Trump’s lawyers, close aides to the former president and Trump Organization officials, appeared before a grand jury in Washington last year. But the use of a different grand jury in Florida suggests prosecutors may look at at least some potential charges in that state.
The Mar-a-Lago investigation, led by special counsel Jack Smith’s team of attorneys, is believed to be in its final stages, with a charging decision expected soon. Trump’s lawyers met Monday at the Justice Department’s office Part of the legal team’s effort with officials, including Smith, is to raise concerns about what they say is prosecutorial misconduct and try to argue against possible indictment.
The investigation has focused not only on Trump’s possession of classified documents, including top secret, but also on Trump’s refusal to turn over the records when asked and potential sanctions. The FBI issued a subpoena for classified records at the property last year, and returned with a search warrant after becoming suspicious that Trump and his representatives had not returned all the documents. And an additional 100 documents with classification markings were recovered.
Investigators questioned a Trump associate Moving boxes of documents at Mar-a-Lago was caught on surveillance camera. As part of a restraining order focused on surveillance footage, they expressed interest in a worker draining a pool at the resort last October, an activity that caused flooding on the property, said another person briefed on the condition. Anonymous. That piece 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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