Trump Claims He Owns Immigration And Pardon Docs

The New York Times reports:

Former President Donald J. Trump is claiming that nine documents seized by the F.B.I. from his Florida residence are his personal property — but the Justice Department says they are official records that should be deposited with the National Archives.

The materials from the initial tranche that Mr. Trump maintains belong to him include six packages submitted to him when he was president supporting requests that he grant clemency to pardon-seekers; two documents related to his administration’s immigration policies; and an email addressed to him from a person at a military academy, it said.

But the Justice Department, in its letter, scoffed at the notion that any of those materials belong to Mr. Trump. It cited the Presidential Records Act, which says all documentary materials created or received by a president should go to the National Archives when a president leaves office.

Read the full article. According to the Times, this is likely just the first shot of claims of ownership over other documents.

A letter to the special master overseeing a review of files seized from Mar-a-Lago has opened a window on disputes between Trump and DOJ over an initial batch. https://t.co/zTXgr6i6bx

— Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) October 21, 2022