Former US President Donald Trump said on social media on Friday that “the nuclear weapons thing is a farce”, responding to a Washington Post report that FBI agents sought nuclear documents in a search of his Florida home earlier this week. It was unclear whether such documents were recovered at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, the Post reported. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The US Justice Department asked a judge on Thursday to release the warrant that authorized the FBI’s investigation of Mar-a-Lago after the Republican former president portrayed it as political payback. On Friday morning, Trump told social networking platform startup Truth Social that “the nuclear weapons thing is a farce,” equating it to controversies involving Russia, an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller and his two impeachments. “The same vulgar people are involved,” he said. Trump offered no evidence to back up his “hoax” claim or his claim that he also did that the evidence might have been planted. “Why wouldn’t the FBI allow an inspection of areas at Mar-a-Lago with our attorney or others present?” he also told Truth Social. The search of his home was part of an investigation into whether Trump illegally removed records from the White House as he left office in January 2021, some of which the Justice Department believes are classified. Attorney General Merrick Garland, the top US law enforcement officer and an appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden, said at a news conference Thursday that he had personally authorized the investigation. The Justice Department is also seeking to release a redacted receipt of the seized items. “The department does not take such a decision lightly. Where possible, it is standard practice to seek less intrusive means as an alternative to a search and to limit any search that is conducted,” Garland said. His decision to publicly confirm the investigation was highly unusual. US law enforcement officials typically do not discuss ongoing investigations to protect people’s rights. In that case, Trump himself announced the investigation in a statement Monday night. Garland said the Justice Department requested the release of the warrant “in light of the former president’s public confirmation of the investigation, the surrounding circumstances and substantial public interest in this matter.” Late Thursday, Trump called for the immediate release of documents related to the investigation. The government has until 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) on Friday to let the court know whether Trump’s lawyers will oppose unsealing the warrant. A source familiar with the matter said the FBI recovered about 10 boxes from Trump’s property during the investigation. Trump was not in Florida at the time. The unprecedented investigation marked a major escalation in one of several federal and state probes Trump has faced since his tenure and private businesses, including a separate one by the Justice Department into a failed attempt by Trump allies to overturn the presidential election of 2020 by submitting false voter statements. The investigation into Trump’s removal of records began this year after the National Archives subpoenaed the department. The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
