According to a newly unsealed court filing, the FBI was authorized to use deadly force while raiding former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in 2022 regarding his alleged posession of classified documents retained after leaving office in 2020.
The court filing was unsealed on Tuesday, nearly two years after the raid on Mar-a-Lago, which was authorized by United States Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Author Julie Kelly shared key discoveries from her research in a series of X posts on Tuesday.
Among commingled documents retained by the former president include unclassified schedules, daily task lists, newspapers, memoranda, briefing books, economic reports, draft press statements, and draft letters along with other classified materials like daily briefing books reportedly containing sensitive information, decision memo packages, talking points for State Department calls, and other documents marked as classified.
The FBI was also authorized to use deadly force when seizing classified documents during the Mar-a-Lago raid.
"Law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary," reads the unsealed Tuesday court filing. FBI agents planned to bring standard issue weapons, ammo, handcuffs, and "medium and large sized bolt cutters." However, the FBI was instructed to keep law enforcement equipment concealed and don "unmarked polo or collard shirts." Tons of new unsealed filings on classified docs case--I will try to post as much as I can (there goes the workout) but this is mind-blowing.
FBI authorized the use of deadly force at Mar-a-Lago pic.twitter.com/f0lR6UifAH
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
However, FBI agents were prohibited from engaging in deadly force in the event of a fleeing suspect.
"If feasible and if to do so would not increase the danger to the officer or others, a verbal warning to submit to the authority of the officer shall be given prior to the use of deadly force," the court filing continues, adding warning shots were prohibited.
FBI agents were further instructed to engage with Trump and his Secret Service if he arrived at Mar-a-Lago during the raid.
"Should [Mar-a-Lago] Guest Reception be unwilling to provide a list of occupied guest rooms, FBI Search Team will knock on each guest room door to determine occupation status," reads the court filing. "FBI will request a map, list of rooms and skeleton key/card for all rooms." Oh my God
Armed FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage Secret Service if necessary.
They were going to go door to door to terrorize MAL guests and even pick the locks.
Gestapo pic.twitter.com/ViWahRIpTL
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
Onsite medical support was also granted to assist in potential injuries during the raid. FBI had a medic on the scene and identified a local trauma center for anyone "injured" during the raid.@JudiciaryGOP pic.twitter.com/vOwlZPUsfb
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
Trump has pleaded not guilty to his charges, referring to the case as a "witch hunt," a term he has frequently used when referring to his other legal cases.
