# FBI Search and Seizure at Trump's Mar-A-Lago Residence, August 8, 2022, Case Dismissed July 15, 2024 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 8, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329 "2022-08-08T23:18:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 103
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2041 "2022-08-31T13:16:21Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Looks like you’d scrape your knuckles turning that handle. I’ve never seen doors (?) with hardware like that. Maybe the handles were the final finishing touch on a building job performed as a final “fuck-you” by a contractor who suddenly realized he was only going to be paid half the agreed sum. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2042 "2022-08-31T13:24:32Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Looks like you’d scrape your knuckles turning that handle. Not if – totally hypothetically of course – the door was only ever opened by someone whose hands were super-tiny. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2043 "2022-08-31T13:25:15Z")
Since people are always curious about what Fox is saying, and since YouTube put the Fox and Friends segment up in my news feed this morning, I watched it. After getting a jab in at the DoJ, they turned it over to a correspondent, a journalist with no particular legal training. For the most part he gave the news straight, damning as it is, but without any emphasis that might upset their viewership. He covered AG Garland’s instructions to the DoJ about not making this political. Then he pivoted into Hunter Biden and Thibault and I stopped paying attention. The comments on the video are just in full on denial. The FBI planted the documents, the DOJ is corrupt, we can’t trust any of this. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2044 "2022-08-31T13:28:37Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Looks like you’d scrape your knuckles turning that handle. I’ve never seen doors (?) with hardware like that. They are called tear drop handles. The dangly bit is hinged, and lifts up towards you. Not the most common type of handle, but not super rare either. And I repeat that it looks like a drawer, not a door > **[Dixie - Vintage Tear Drop Cabinet Pull Knob - Antique Brass](https://www.decoranddecor.com/products/dixie-vintage-tear-drop-cabinet-pull-knob-antique-brass)** > > Buy Teardrop Vintage Retro Drawer Finger Pull Knob online! Decor and Decor Kitchen, Door and Home Decoration Accessory Products! [https://s.yimg.com/aah/dlawlesshardware/pendant-drop-pulls-soft-brass-1.gif](https://s.yimg.com/aah/dlawlesshardware/pendant-drop-pulls-soft-brass-1.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2045 "2022-08-31T13:29:27Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > [Ex-Federal Prosecutor: Trump's Attorneys Need To Lawyer Up After New DOJ Filing | HuffPost Latest News](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/andrew-weissmann-trump-attorneys-doj_n_630efe27e4b065bfc4b33a61) > > “Everything Trump touches dies”. Still true. **M** ake **A** ttorneys **G** et **A** ttorneys ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2046 "2022-08-31T13:32:14Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > The picture of the documents on the floor… I’m curious about the box with the framed TIME cover on the right. That looks like a stack of same-size frames behind the first one. Are they all that same TIME cover? Or maybe one of his faked TIME covers? The one in front is a brown frame; the ones behind are gilded frames. Did he give the ones in gilded frames to his besties? Maybe he gave them to people who did work for him instead of actually paying them? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2047 "2022-08-31T13:40:56Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > they wouldn’t be working for Trump. Money is money, even from losers or for losing cases. And those cases especially need proper legal representation in the sort of just society we wish to live in. But, as an attorney friend once told me, if you’re working criminal defense, get the money up front. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2048 "2022-08-31T13:55:12Z")
I literally do not see how you can call this anything other than the single greatest security breach in American history. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2049 "2022-08-31T13:57:45Z")
Oh come on. [Just one example.](https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/aldrich-ames) > Ames was later debriefed by FBI agents, at which time he detailed compromising the identities of CIA and FBI human sources, some of whom were executed by Soviet authorities. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2050 "2022-08-31T14:03:56Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > A lot of those documents are just white rectangles. And some of those don’t look natural. I’m going to guess that those white rectangles were photoshopped by the FBI to avoid the possibility of giving away secrets. The only pages not whited out are cover pages; anything that’s actual classified doc got the white-out treatment, even if the camera was too far away to read the text. This appears to be the original resolution: [![](https://katu.com/resources/media/a8e2f1c3-30fe-492a-8f06-63fb92ce5f3a-full16x9_AP22243147136668.jpg?1661921046616) ](https://katu.com/resources/media/a8e2f1c3-30fe-492a-8f06-63fb92ce5f3a-full16x9_AP22243147136668.jpg?1661921046616) ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2051 "2022-08-31T14:06:48Z")
One of the most important statements (IMHO) in the pleading: > Because the records do not belong to Plaintiff, Rule 41(g) gives him no right to have them returned. And because Plaintiff has no such right, this Court should not appoint a special master to review Presidential records for the purpose of entertaining potential claims of executive privilege. At most, Plaintiff can seek return of his _personal_ property. (Emphasis theirs.) That says it all in a nutshell. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2052 "2022-08-31T14:23:12Z")
I wonder if, once the stolen documents hammer drops on Trump, his co-conspirators in the election fraud and sedition plots will find the backbone to turn on him. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2053 "2022-08-31T14:36:58Z")
We’ve been asking that question since his original campaign. Just substituting ‘stolen documents’ for whatever stupid thing he did that day. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2054 "2022-08-31T14:45:53Z")
First, the picture. I am certain the FBI laid those out so that they could show some of what they found. The ‘white rectangles’ might be sheets of paper placed over the document because the faces of the documents had sensitive information on them > [@velomont](#): > > About ten years after that I was working in a SIGINT facility and I had to get clearances that I had never heard of before and was told never to speak of by name. My dad had TS/Crypto when he was a communications officer on the 7th Fleet’s flagship. I’d never heard of ‘crypto’ until he mentioned the term once a decade after he retired. I don’t know how Trump’s SCIF was set up, but in my experience from almost 30 years ago: [EDIT: You know what? I’m not going to describe the extensive security measures. If you have Need To Know, you already know. If you don’t, let’s just say that the security measures are extensive in that world.] ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2055 "2022-08-31T14:48:03Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > We’ve been asking that question since his original campaign. Just substituting ‘stolen documents’ for whatever stupid thing he did that day. Yes, but he’s never been indicted before for anything connected with his candidacy or presidency. This is new territory. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2056 "2022-08-31T15:27:02Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I don’t know how Trump’s SCIF was set up, but in my experience from almost 30 years ago: > > [EDIT: You know what? I’m not going to describe the extensive security measures. If you have Need To Know, you already know. If you don’t, let’s just say that the security measures are extensive in that world.] There is a whole industry around SCIF design and construction. Here is an example of a portable SCIF built into a shipping container: > **[Portable SCIF | Armag Corporation](https://www.armagcorp.com/products/scifs/arc-lt-portable-scif/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg__PnbDx-QIV88LCBB32Gw5QEAAYASAAEgLhcPD_BwE)** > > The ARC LT is a Temporary Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (T-SCIF) manufactured from an ISO shipping container. Optional RF shielding to TEMPEST standard available. Presumably a more permanent setup was used at Mar-a-Lago, probably with a lot more gold plating. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2057 "2022-08-31T15:41:32Z")
Just another OhByTheWay: > Therefore, all FBI positions require at least a Top Secret Clearance; special agents must be able to obtain a Top Secret SCI Clearance. [**SOURCE – 30pp PDF**](https://www.fbijobs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-08/guide_howtoapply.pdf) This should do away with yet another RW talking point. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2058 "2022-08-31T15:48:21Z")
Yes, I know I’m being over-cautious. There’s no reason why, three decades on, I shouldn’t describe the multi-layered security in a certain facility. Nevertheless… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2059 "2022-08-31T15:58:33Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The ‘white rectangles’ might be sheets of paper placed over the document because the faces of the documents had sensitive information on them See the larger image I posted. No way those are paper. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2060 "2022-08-31T16:01:52Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > See the larger image I posted. No way those are paper. Agreed; it looks to me like the FBI used Photoshop (or the like) to superimpose white polygons over the actual printed (and, presumably, classified) contents on those pages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329.md?page=102) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329.md?page=104)