The discovery of an Obama-era Department of Defense memo has reignited debate over the legitimacy of the 2022 raid on former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, raising significant questions about the federal government’s handling of documents.
Unveiling the Memo
The contentious document, titled “Memorandum of Understanding Entered into by Presidential Information Technology Community Entities,” dates back to 2015. This memo was drafted in response to a 2014 Russian breach of the Executive Office of the President’s network, leading then-President Barack Obama to establish the Presidential Information Technology Community (PITC). The PITC includes representatives from federal agencies such as the Department of Defense and Homeland Security and dictates that information received through its network is under presidential control.
America First Legal’s Claims
America First Legal (AFL), a conservative legal group, claims possession of this memo, suggesting that the Department of Defense maintained information systems used by the President, Vice President, and Executive Office. This raises serious questions about whether all documents from Trump’s tenure were stored by the federal government. Dan Epstein, Vice President of AFL, expressed his outrage, stating: “What America First Legal has uncovered after months of investigative work paints an unfortunate picture of Washington’s disregard for rule law. A former President was subjected to an unjustified FBI raid spurred by a politically motivated referral from the Biden White House.”
Government Response and Legal Implications
The Department of Defense has remained silent on the memo, while neither the White House nor the Department of Justice has responded to inquiries from Fox News Digital. The FBI seized 33 boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, resulting in a legal battle and Trump being charged with 40 felony counts, including alleged violations of the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice. Trump has categorically denied these charges, labeling the investigation an “Election Interference Scam” masterminded by the Biden administration and Special Counsel Jack Smith. Although this memo does not exonerate Trump, it casts serious doubts on the validity of the raid, suggesting that the government may have already had access to these documents.
Additional Revelations and Broader Investigations
Presiding Judge Aileen Cannon recently unredacted over 300 pages of evidence revealing communications between the Biden administration and National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) regarding Trump’s documents. These communications began shortly after Trump left office in 2021, with NARA expressing concerns about how Presidential records were handled. This case has opened up wider investigations into how classified documents were managed by current President Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence. Special Counsel Robert Hur recently decided not to recommend criminal charges against Biden, citing his age and perceived cognitive state as factors that could influence a jury’s decision—a clear demonstration of double standards.
Ongoing Controversy
The revelation of this Obama-era Department of Defense memo adds further complexity to an already contentious issue. It underscores deep-seated concerns about federal government actions leading up to the Mar-a-Lago raid. As legal battles rage on, it raises more questions about how high-profile political figures are treated and justice is applied in America.
Source: Red Right Daily