Trump lawyers visit Justice Department

Lawyers defending Donald Trump in an investigation related to his handling of highly sensitive national security documents were spotted entering the Justice Department on Monday, as special counsel Jack Smith appears to be approaching a charging decision in the matter.

CBS observed the attorneys, including James Trusty and Lindsey Halligan, entering DOJ’s offices late Monday morning. The subject of their visit was not immediately clear, nor was the identity of the officials they were slated to meet. The Justice Department referred questions on the matter to a spokesman for Smith, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Two attorneys representing Trump on the documents matter sought a meeting last month with Attorney General Merrick Garland. It’s also unclear if Monday’s meeting was a result of this May 23 correspondence.

Smith is probing Trump’s retention of dozens of classified national security records at his resort properties after leaving office. The National Archives sought to reclaim hundreds of records missing from its files soon after Trump departed and, after protracted negotiations, recovered 15 boxes of material in early 2022. Archives officials first noticed some classified documents at that time and referred the matter to the Justice Department.

DOJ subpoenaed Trump’s office to recover additional classified material, but after those negotiations failed, the FBI raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate last August and seized additional boxes from Trump’s storage room and personal office — discovering additional classified records that had not been returned. In addition to probing Trump for keeping the material, Smith is also eyeing whether he tried to obstruct the Justice Department’s efforts to identify and reclaim all of the classified records at his home.