Democrats Allege Trump Retained Classified Documents to Foster Private Business Interests

Rep. Jamie Raskin claims a 2023 DOJ memo shows Donald Trump retained highly sensitive documents, including a classified map, to benefit his private businesses.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 11:17 AM EDT

Source: People

New Evidence from the Special Counsel Inquiry

The latest developments in the long running investigation into the handling of government records surfaced through a letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, cited a previously undisclosed memo that reportedly contains "damning evidence" regarding the former president’s motives. According to the document, federal investigators determined that some of the classified materials recovered from Mar-a-Lago were directly "pertinent to his business interests," suggesting a financial rather than purely political or personal motive for their retention.

This disclosure adds a fresh layer of scrutiny to the 2022 FBI search of Trump's Florida estate, where agents seized thousands of records, including approximately 300 marked as classified. While the public has been aware of the location of these documents—ranging from ballrooms to bathrooms—the specific allegation that they were intended to "enrich" the former president provides a new focal point for his political opponents.

Allegations of Misuse and National Security Risks

The 2023 memo details specific instances where national security protocols were allegedly bypassed. Most notably, the letter claims that in June 2022, Trump displayed a classified map to passengers aboard his private aircraft during a flight to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Among those present, according to the report, was Susie Wiles, who currently serves as the White House Chief of Staff.

The Department of Justice’s original memo characterized the exposure of these documents as an "aggravated potential harm to national security." Prosecutors emphasized that the level of sensitivity for some materials was extreme, noting that one specific document was authorized for viewing by only a handful of the nation's highest officials. The commingling of these state secrets with documents created after Trump left office further complicated the security breach, according to the FBI findings cited by Raskin.