Trump’s lawyers asked prosecutors to drop the classified docs probe

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Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers met with Justice Department prosecutors Monday as a special counsel nears a decision on whether to charge Trump with mishandling classified documents obtained from his estate in Mar -a-Lago last year.

76-year-old Trump’s legal team attorneys John Rowley, James Trusty and Lindsey Halligan spent nearly two hours at DOJ headquarters in Washington two weeks after requesting a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland to address the alleged “misconduct and overreach” of the special counsel, Jack Smith.

According to the Washington Post, the trio was joined by Smith – but neither Garland nor her top representative, Lisa Monaco, was present.

A spokesman for Smith declined to comment.

A Trump spokesman told The Post last week that lawyers planned to share with Garland specific examples of prosecutorial misconduct and overreach.

Lawyers for Donald Trump met with Justice Department prosecutors on Monday over the investigation into the former president’s handling of classified documents.REUTERS The legal team met for about two hours with Justice Department prosecutors, including Special Counsel Jack Smith.SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/ Shutterstock

Our hope is that he understands that the right thing to do is to close his file on this matter and allow the presidential campaign to move forward without interference, the spokesman said at the time.

After the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social: “HOW WILL THE DOJ, WHO DID NOTHING, GET ME AWAY WITHOUT ANOTHER PRESIDENT [sic] NECESSARY, WHEN JOE BIDEN IS NOT CHARGED FOR ANYTHING, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT HE HAS 1,850 BOXES, MOST OF WHICH ARE CLASSIFIED, AND SOME DATE BACK TO HIS SENATE DAYS WHEN DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WERE SURPRISED. ALSO, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DOCUMENTS, AND WON IN COURT. CROOKED HILLARY DELETED 33,000 EMAILS, MANY CLASSIFIED, AND NOT CLOSE TO BEING CHARGED! ONLY TRUMP – THE BEST WITCH OF ALL TIME!”

The FBI seized many of those documents in August after Trump failed to turn over the files as part of a dispute with the National Archives and Records Administration.AP

Smith is reportedly wrapping up his criminal investigation into Trump’s retention of hundreds of classified documents brought to the Palm Beach, Fla., resort. after he leaves office in January 2021. CBS News, which first reported on Monday’s meeting, also said a decision on the charges was imminent, citing sources familiar with the investigation.

The FBI seized many of the documents in August after Trump failed to turn over the files as part of a dispute with the National Archives and Records Administration.

That delay could result in an obstruction of justice charge against the former president.

A Trump spokesman told The Post that lawyers planned to share with Garland specific examples of prosecutorial misconduct and overreach.REUTERS

Smith also digs into allegations that Trump was recorded in the summer of 2021 admitting that he had some classified documents related to a US military plan to attack Iran.

The Justice Department last week chose not to indict former Vice President Mike Pence after classified documents were found at his Indiana home this past January.

President Biden, 80, also faces a special counsel investigation over alleged mishandling of classified information.

The visit comes after Trump’s legal team requested a sit-down with the AG last week, saying in a letter to the DOJ that the former president was treated unfairly in the inquiry.AP

Pence, who will announce his campaign for president on Wednesday, voluntarily gave the sensitive material to the bureau following the seizure of classified material from Bidens Delaware home and a former think tank office used by the president.

The agents returned the following month and obtained additional classified documents. Pence said he takes full responsibility for any mistakes.

Smith also investigates Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his potential role in instigating the riots at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Trump’s delay in handing over some of the documents could result in an obstruction of justice case for the former president.AP

FBI agents seized Bidens documents, some labeled top secret and involving Iran and Ukraine, from his Wilmington garage and other locations inside his home in December.

Biden maintained that he had nothing to do with the allegations and referred to the documents as stray papers.

Garland appointed Special Counsel Robert Hur in January to oversee the investigation into Biden’s handling of information.

Smith is reportedly wrapping up his criminal investigation into the Trumps’ alleged mishandling of hundreds of classified documents.FR159526 AP

As the GOP frontrunner for the 2024 presidential nomination, Trump was indicted earlier this year for allegedly falsifying business records before the 2016 election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 felony counts of concealing hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal through his former legal fixer Michael Cohen .

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