A top national security prosecutor has joined the team investigating Trump's Mar-a-Lago documents, indicating the probe is heating up, WaPo reports
- David Raskin joined the team investigating Trump's Mar-a-Lago documents, The Washington Post reported.
- The prosecutor recently oversaw a case of an FBI analyst who pleaded guilty to keeping classified materials at home.
Veteran prosecutor David Raskin, who recently oversaw the case of an FBI analyst who pleaded guilty to keeping classified materials at home, has joined the team investigating the documents found at former president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, The Washington Post reported.
Raskin previously served as a senior federal prosecutor in New York, known for his work on the case of a co-conspirator in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as the 1998 bombings of US embassies in East Africa. More recently, Raskin served as a prosecutor in Missouri, where he investigated the case of FBI analyst Kendra Kingsbury, who on October 13 pleaded guilty to keeping national defense documents in her home. Kingsbury faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
His work on such high profile cases has earned Raskin the reputation of being one of the nation's most successful terrorism prosecutors, the Post reported. Sources familiar with the Mar-A-Lago investigation told the outlet Raskin has been assisting with the investigation after originally having been called upon by the Department of Justice to consult on the criminal investigation resulting from the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
National security law experts told the Post that prosecutors appear to have gathered enough evidence to meet at least some of the criteria for bringing charges against Trump.
Raskin's involvement with the investigation is an indicator that the case is headed toward prosecution, according to several legal scholars and former US attorneys.
"This move suggests DOJ is seriously considering criminal charges," Barb McQuade, a former US Attorney and Michigan Law School professor, tweeted about the news of Raskin's participation. "In light of apparent aggravating factors, it would be hard to decline charging this case when ordinary government employees get charged for less egregious conduct."
Legal scholars told Insider in August that they believed the former president could soon be indicted.
Raskin did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.