Press Statement on Second Public Release of NARA Records Concerning the 15 Boxes Received from Mar-a-Lago in January 2022

WASHINGTON, November 9, 2022 – Today, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is making its second release of documents processed in response to numerous Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for NARA records related to the 15 boxes we received in January 2022 from former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, Florida estate. 

News reports surrounding the boxes and presence of classified information resulted in dozens of requests for these records from the press, members of Congress and the public. Today’s release consists of communications between NARA officials related to the 15 boxes. We expect to process more internal communications related to the 15 boxes for release in December. 

We are releasing 23 pages in full and 52 pages in part. We are withholding 855 pages in full. Most of the requested documents are being withheld under FOIA exemptions that apply (1) to NARA’s internal deliberations and privileged communications with PRA representatives, with federal agencies, and with Congress (FOIA exemption (b)(5)); (2) to information that involves personal privacy interests (FOIA exemption (b)(6)); and (3) to information concerning active law enforcement proceedings and efforts (FOIA exemptions (b)(7)(A), (b)(7)(C) and (b)(7)(E)). 

NARA will continue to review additional responsive information in the coming months for possible release. 

We are not able to comment more on today’s release because of pending litigation.

This statement is also posted online here: Press Statements in Response to Media Queries About Presidential Records.

###

For press information contact the National Archives Public and Media Communications staff at [email protected].