FBI recovers 'top secret' documents during raid at Trump's residence in Florida

Washington: The FBI recovered documents that were labeled "top secret" from former President Donald Trump's residence, according to court papers released Friday after a federal judge unsealed the warrant that authorised the unprecedented search this week.

The Wall Street Journal said FBI agents removed 11 sets of classified documents from Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in the raid.

The newspaper said some of the documents were marked "top secret" and were "meant to be only available in special government facilities." It said a list of items removed included information about the "President of France."

The Journal said the list was contained in a seven-page document that also includes the warrant to search the palatial Trump estate in Palm Beach.

The Justice Department has asked a Florida judge to unseal the search warrant on Friday barring objections from Trump, who is weighing another White House run in 2024.

The 76-year-old Trump said he would not block the release of the warrant while complaining that he was the victim of "unprecedented political weaponization of law enforcement" by "radical left Democrats."

The Wall Street Journal said FBI agents carted away around 20 boxes of items including binders of photos, a handwritten note, and the grant of clemency made by Trump to Roger Stone, an ally of the former president.

The Washington Post on Thursday cited anonymous sources close to the investigation as saying classified documents relating to nuclear weapons were among the papers sought by FBI agents during the raid.

Trump himself appeared to deny the claim, posting that the "nuclear weapons issue is a hoax" and even suggesting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation might have been "planting information" at his home.

The highly unusual move to unseal the search warrant was announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland -- the country's top law enforcement officer -- who said he had "personally approved" the raid on Trump's home.

Garland said he had asked a Florida judge to unseal the warrant because of "substantial public interest in this matter," and he gave Trump and his legal team until 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) Friday to oppose the motion.

In a statement on Thursday, Trump said his attorneys had been "cooperating fully" and "the government could have had whatever they wanted if we had it."