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Donald Trump exits Trump Tower (photo dated August 10)
PHOTO: DAVID DEE DELGADO/ REUTERS
Former US President Donald Trump has denied a media report that the FBI raided his home looking for documents related to nuclear weapons.
Trump wrote on Friday on the social network Truth Social, which he co-founded: "The nuclear weapons issue is a hoax".
"The same shoddy people are involved," he explained, referring to the two impeachment trials and the investigation of former FBI Director Robert Mueller against himself, among other things.
Trump did not provide any evidence for his statements.
Trump insists on the publication of the documents
The ex-president also called for the immediate release of documents related to the search of his Mar-a-Lago property in the US state of Florida.
During the search of the property, the FBI is said to have searched for classified documents about nuclear weapons.
The "Washington Post" reported on Friday night that the unspecified sources of the newspaper had said neither what specific information was involved, nor whether this information had affected the United States or other countries.
The sources also did not provide any information as to whether relevant documents had been found during the search.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland had previously defended the request for a search warrant against massive criticism from Trump and those around him.
"I personally endorsed the decision to seek a search warrant," Garland said Thursday at a late-breaking address in Washington.
"The search warrant was granted by a federal court following the required determination of reasonable suspicion."
more on the subject
Mar-a-Lago Search:Did Trump Hide Nuclear Weapons Files in Basement?By Marc Pitzke, New York
FBI raid in Mar-a-Lago: A black day for Donald TrumpBy Roland Nelles, Washington
Garland added, “The Ministry does not take such a decision lightly.
Wherever possible, less intrusive means will be sought as an alternative to a search, and any search will be strictly limited.”
The federal police FBI searched Trump's property in Florida last Monday.
The process is considered unprecedented in US history.
The pressure on Garland had since grown to take a stand.
Trump was not at his home during the search.
He and other Republicans have strongly criticized the search and accused Democratic US President Joe Biden of politicizing the FBI.
According to the White House, Biden did not know in advance about the search of the Trump property.
Garland said Thursday he could not comment on the details of the search.
However, given the public interest and Trump's confirmation of the incident, his department has petitioned a federal court to release the search warrant and receipt for confiscated items.
Trump urged Garland to release it.
"Release the documents now!" he wrote on Truth Social late Thursday.
FBI found 12 more boxes of documents
The background to the search was apparently Trump's handling of documents from his tenure.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that the National Archives, which is responsible for storing presidential correspondence, suspected several boxes of confidential material were in Mar-a-Lago.
Trump gave the agency several documents in January.
After that, according to US media reports, there was a further exchange between investigators and Trump's lawyers.
Officials suspected Trump or his team were continuing to withhold important documents, the Washington Post wrote.
The FBI is said to have taken twelve boxes.
mfh/Reuters/dpa
