# FBI Search and Seizure at Trump's Mar-A-Lago Residence, August 8, 2022, Case Dismissed July 15, 2024

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329>\
**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:** 104

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**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2061 "2022-08-31T16:15:14Z")

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> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> It’s on CNN’s front page right now. Surprisingly, Fox News has it, too,

Is an FBI forensic photographer eligible for a Pulitzer prize? 😄

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**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2062 "2022-08-31T16:27:04Z")

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The carpet in that photo seems somehow appropriate - like from a casino - maybe TFG saves some from one of his failed hotels to use in MaL - perhaps he’s all into that whole ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ thing?

Anyway, I find the framed Time magazine interesting - here is that cover (March 4, 2019):

[![](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/tim190304v1_2020.coverfinal.jpg?quality=85&w=840) ](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/tim190304v1_2020.coverfinal.jpg?quality=85&w=840)

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**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2063 "2022-08-31T16:28:02Z")

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> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> 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.

> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> I had assumed that it was _in situ_, but actually, according to the DOJ filing, it does appear that they were (rather haphazardly) laid out by the FBI for the purpose of being photographed. The only description of that photograph within the text of the DOJ filing describes it as “_ **redacted FBI photograph** of certain documents and classified cover sheets recovered from a container in the ‘45 office’_.” So I gather from this that the docs were originally in some type of box. I can only surmise why one of the documents is flipped open, but maybe it’s so the unredacted version of the photo shows the nature of the information the document contained, for those with clearance to see it.

Bold emphasis is mine, Italic in original.

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**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2064 "2022-08-31T17:04:28Z")

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> [@Ssounder](#):
>
> The below article suggests:

The article is from Founders Ministries, about a book by evangelicals. I don’t think I would take their word for how much influence they have.

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**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2065 "2022-08-31T17:07:47Z")

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Apologized if I missed it in this discussion, but there’s a line from early in the DOJ response that I’m curious about:

> [@DOJ](#):
>
> Mindful that the Court ruling on the present motion is not the same Court that  
> authorized the search warrant from which this civil action results, the government provides  
> below a detailed recitation of the relevant facts, many of which are provided to correct the  
> incomplete and inaccurate narrative set forth in Plaintiff’s filings.

The DOJ has been really tightlipped concerning this investigation, and my impression is that this is more out of a desire to maintain protocol than out of lack of confidence in their case. I’m wondering whether this line here is something of a workaround. “Here, judge,” they’re saying, “We’re going to lay the entire case out to you in a way that we haven’t done publicly up to this point. Oh, is this document going to go public right away? Well, heavens to betsy! We can’t directly address the public with a complete outline of the case, but it might just so happen that they’ll read the case we set out for you the judge! Would you look at that.”

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**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2066 "2022-08-31T17:17:56Z")

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SEE!!! The FBI is hiding Hilary’s emails under the white. I, TRUTH, the real PresiDeNt will pardon blather, gibberish, nonsense …

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**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2067 "2022-08-31T17:19:06Z")

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> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#):
>
> The DOJ has been really tightlipped concerning this investigation, and my impression is that this is more out of a desire to maintain protocol than out of lack of confidence in their case. I’m wondering whether this line here is something of a workaround.

I think this is definitely the case. The complete filing was not written for the judge alone.

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**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, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2068 "2022-08-31T17:23:58Z")

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> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#):
>
> “Here, judge,” they’re saying, “We’re going to lay the entire case out to you in a way that we haven’t done publicly up to this point. Oh, is this document going to go public right away? Well, heavens to betsy! We can’t directly address the public with a complete outline of the case, but it might just so happen that they’ll read the case we set out for you the judge! Would you look at that.”

This document was filed in such a way as to educate the public and lay out DOJ’s case as much as it was to respond to Trump’s action. This is basically the, “You opened the door, so…” response. They are entitled to do it, both to explain their actions and to refute Trump’s false assertions.

The beauty of this whole thing is that if Trump had kept his big yap shut, DOJ may still have charged him (probably would in any case), but he could have kept grifting off the rubes and pretended to run for president again for a few more months. Instead, he gave DOJ the perfect opening to make their case to the public without in any way stepping over their commitment to speak through their actions and their filings. Well done, AG Garland.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2069 "2022-08-31T17:27:00Z")

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The _real_ beauty of it is that all this was driven by Laura Ingraham openly challenging his lawyers to _do something_. Ingraham very well may have truly believed this was crap and thought that innocent Donald was appearing guilty through his lack of response.

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**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2070 "2022-08-31T17:27:22Z")

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> [@Roderick\_Femm](#):
>
> The article is from Founders Ministries, about a book by evangelicals. I don’t think I would take their word for how much influence they have.

I’ll happily respond  
[Over here.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-is-charged-and-arrested-and-he-calls-for-insurrection-what-do-you-think-will-happen/970577/136)

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**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, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2071 "2022-08-31T17:28:14Z")

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> [@Ssounder](#):
>
> I’ll happily respond  
> [Over here.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-is-charged-and-arrested-and-he-calls-for-insurrection-what-do-you-think-will-happen/970577/136)

Thank you so much. 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2072 "2022-08-31T17:32:21Z")

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@Aspenglow : wielding leadership like a drum and power like a violin 🙂

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**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2073 "2022-08-31T17:34:36Z")

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> [@Aspenglow](#):
>
> This document was filed in such a way as to educate the public and lay out DOJ’s case as much as it was to respond to Trump’s action.

AND to throw a dig in at the judge of “you didn’t sign the warrant; not sure why you’re getting involved now other than the target of the warrant going venue shopping…”

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2074 "2022-08-31T17:36:44Z")

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Yes. I was really glad to see that. I do think she is mindful of it based on her initial comments on having received the Trump filing. And she did grant leave to DOJ to file their much longer response. My reading on that: “DOJ, please give me a roadmap on how to rule in this fool’s case without making me look like an idiot.”

I hope I’m right. DOJ has given her every offramp.

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**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2075 "2022-08-31T18:02:45Z")

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Why didn’t she simply say, “This is not my jurisdiction. Take it to the original court.” And seemed to be chomping at the bit to rule in favor of little trumpkins, almost before DOJ could file a response.

That’s the way I interpreted it, anyway. I don’t get why she made that statement on a Saturday, seemingly apropos of nothing.

And the DOJ’s response was rather mild in noting that this is not the original court.

Why aren’t they saying, “Get out! Not your jurisdiction!”?

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**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2076 "2022-08-31T18:09:45Z")

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> [@Skypist](#):
>
> Why didn’t she simply say, “This is not my jurisdiction. Take it to the original court.” And seemed to be chomping at the bit to rule in favor of little trumpkins, almost before DOJ could file a response.

It may be that they simply filed the motion and it was randomly assigned to a judge. If they are right that it has to go to a District Court judge and not a Magistrate Judge, then there’s nothing improper going on on this issue.

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**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, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2077 "2022-08-31T18:14:37Z")

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Oops!

> <https://twitter.com/samstein/status/1565018476867092486?t=l5ge0th_7XQFFyU89aUX_Q&s=19>

> <https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1565019066213056512?t=c9k-UUvQbjcJXtcKNHEVkQ&s=19>

Story:

> **[Days before Mar-a-Lago subpoena, Trump lawyer claimed she scoured his office,...](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/31/days-before-mar-a-lago-subpoena-trump-lawyer-claimed-she-scoured-trumps-office-closets-00054369)**
>
> A filing by Alina Habba in the case over Trump’s business empire could create exposure in the matter of classified information being stored at the ex-president’s home.

5, 6 days prior to the raid, another Trump lawyer swore to a statement to the State of New York that she searched NAR-A-Lago for documents _they_ wanted. In this statement, to document her thoroughness, she noted the areas she searched which also includes many of the locations where the classified material was unsecurely held.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2078 "2022-08-31T18:18:25Z")

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The House Judiciary GOP committee’s response to the filing last night seems like a parody.  
[![](https://i.imgur.com/LFrGmer.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/LFrGmer.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2079 "2022-08-31T18:18:56Z")

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Just a reminder, that account is run by Gym Jordan.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2080 "2022-08-31T18:19:42Z")

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I guess that could be it. I’m just a layperson trying to figure out WTH is going on! I wish we could get some clarification on that. It still seems to me like Judge Cannon was awfully eager to rule in favor of li’l trump. What prompted her Saturday statement that she was inclined to rule in his favor?

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