WASHINGTON, D.C. – The federal National Archives agency is hunting for Trump records, and so far has recovered 15 boxes of papers taken to Mar-a-Lago in violation of law.
Press Statement from the National Archives:
In mid-January 2022, NARA arranged for the transport from the Trump Mar-a-Lago property in Florida to the National Archives of 15 boxes that contained Presidential records, following discussions with President Trump’s representatives in 2021. Former President Trump’s representatives have informed NARA that they are continuing to search for additional Presidential records that belong to the National Archives.
As required by the Presidential Records Act (PRA), these records should have been transferred to NARA from the White House at the end of the Trump Administration in January 2021.
“The Presidential Records Act mandates that all Presidential records must be properly preserved by each Administration so that a complete set of Presidential records is transferred to the National Archives at the end of the Administration,” said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero. “NARA pursues the return of records whenever we learn that records have been improperly removed or have not been appropriately transferred to official accounts.”
Ferriero further stressed the importance of adherence to the PRA by all Presidents.“The Presidential Records Act is critical to our democracy, in which the government is held accountable by the people,” Ferriero said. “Whether through the creation of adequate and proper documentation, sound records management practices, the preservation of records, or the timely transfer of them to the National Archives at the end of an Administration, there should be no question as to need for both diligence and vigilance. Records matter.”
NPR reports, “…keeping the boxes of records at Mar-a-Lago violated the Presidential Records Act — which requires that the government keep all forms of documents and communications related to a president’s or vice president’s official duties.
“News of the boxes discovered at Trump’s Florida residence comes a week after the Archives turned over damaged White House documents from his administration to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection on the U.S. Capitol. Hundreds of pages of documents were either taped back together or arrived at the Archives still in pieces.”
What else, if anything, Trump illegally took from the White House is still open for investigation.
