Trump lawyers seek meeting with Garland as Mar-a-Lago investigation shows signs of winding down

The National Archives has informed former President Donald Trump. It's handing over 16 presidential records to the special counsel in charge of the investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents. The records indicate that Trump and his top advisers were aware of the declassification process while he was president seemingly contradicting some of Trump recent claims documents were automatically declassified when he left office. Let's take *** look at the media landscape on this story according to our exclusive media miss tool, as you can see, there's only one source on the right covering it. We want to give you *** more complete picture of the headlines, use the tool for yourself at straight news dot com. In *** letter to Trump acting archivist, Deborah Walsh said quote, these 16 records in question all reflect communications involving close presidential advisers. Some of them directed to you personally concerning whether why and how you should declassify certain classified records. According to the letter, Trump tried to block the special counsel from accessing the records by asserting constitutionally based privilege. The records are set to be handed over next week. Thanks for watching straight. *** news is on *** mission to bring you unbiased fact based reporting. One way we do that is our media miss tool, which shows you the stories, the left and right media are under reporting. Join us at straight *** news dot com.

Lawyers for Donald Trump on Tuesday asked for a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland as a Justice Department investigation into the former president's handling of classified documents shows signs of winding down.In the letter, which Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, attorneys John Rowley and James Trusty asserted that Trump is “being treated unfairly” and asked for a meeting to discuss “the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel and his prosecutors.” The language echoed some of Trump's own complaints in recent months about the investigations being led by special counsel Jack Smith.It was not immediately clear what specifically prompted the letter, but the yearlong documents probe appears to be nearing an end. Agents and prosecutors have interviewed a broad cross-section of witnesses, including attorneys for Trump, former White House officials and other close aides.The investigation is seeking to determine whether Trump illegally retained hundreds of classified documents taken with him from the White House to his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, after the end of his tenure and whether he sought to obstruct government efforts to get the records back.It is not uncommon for defense lawyers to seek meetings with senior Justice Department officials to argue against potential indictments of their clients, though it is unusual for such meetings to include the attorney general.Special counsels enjoy broad autonomy within the Justice Department, and officials have repeatedly signaled that the recommendation on whether to pursue charges against Trump or anyone else in the investigation belongs with Smith and his team. Garland did not move once to overrule any of the actions taken in the recently concluded probe by another special counsel, John Durham, into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation in 2016.Trump's lawyers and a Trump spokesperson did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.In addition to the investigation of the documents, Smith is separately investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election.

WASHINGTON —

In the letter, which Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, attorneys John Rowley and James Trusty asserted that Trump is “being treated unfairly” and asked for a meeting to discuss “the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel and his prosecutors.” The language echoed some of Trump's own complaints in recent months about the investigations being led by special counsel Jack Smith.

It was not immediately clear what specifically prompted the letter, but the yearlong documents probe appears to be nearing an end. Agents and prosecutors have interviewed a broad cross-section of witnesses, including attorneys for Trump, former White House officials and other close aides.

The investigation is seeking to determine whether Trump illegally retained hundreds of classified documents taken with him from the White House to his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, after the end of his tenure and whether he sought to obstruct government efforts to get the records back.

It is not uncommon for defense lawyers to seek meetings with senior Justice Department officials to argue against potential indictments of their clients, though it is unusual for such meetings to include the attorney general.

Special counsels enjoy broad autonomy within the Justice Department, and officials have repeatedly signaled that the recommendation on whether to pursue charges against Trump or anyone else in the investigation belongs with Smith and his team. Garland did not move once to overrule any of the actions taken in the recently concluded probe by another special counsel, John Durham, into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation in 2016.

Trump's lawyers and a Trump spokesperson did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.

In addition to the investigation of the documents, Smith is separately investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election.

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