# 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:** 105
**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, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2081 "2022-08-31T18:25:01Z")
Pay no attention to those classified documents on the floor! /s ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2082 "2022-08-31T18:25:51Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Quoting Kyle Cheney > As she sought records in connection with the separate NY AG investigation, Alina Habba said she had “searched each and every room” of Trump’s residence and office at Mar-a-Lago, including all desks, drawers, nightstands, dressers, closets and file cabinets When she was a kid, and said she found all the Easter eggs, the smell of the unfound ones three days later was terrible. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2083 "2022-08-31T18:26:07Z")
> [@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. Here’s a NYT article (gift link) about how and why the FBI took the picture. > **[How the Picture of Top Secret Folders at Mar-a-Lago Came About (Published 2022)](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/31/us/politics/trump-photo-classified-documents.html?unlocked_article_code=ex4EMr3A8Sjt-lN5ZHFw5UaDea9cQGRiEK6mDa4fQ7WO76DlPS-MzSPjimWUofZE783mNUkXvnc1TLJqgv25OP9RZ_p5-_9-aq6v_p1OREejJR6-wq3FpE5PRy99IHwA_zeSsc6-22_erOtuZn4IqfjvePqUeNri6USCdYtpg5qOlCerqxLrX5mgywtgI8EfcMfzCbF3bK345LTGVPH52L24rFa7Gepmg01EOdpsg-IiyfTdVcSi8e9tKOJPu2EE6bmK2ym9H9nAQxDuSQkncI_5uhOW6Owq7IBJFapWTdWwnRNsdik8QjQKfp8-cZWI9rMBqeiJEK9ZhgpN8JkLoNReXpJTfiM0JMzEFzmF&smid=share-url)** > > Federal agents arrayed classified materials on a floor at former President Donald J. Trump’s Florida residence for a photograph as a standard part of their evidence-gathering procedures. > On Wednesday, Mr. Trump took to his social media site to say that “the F.B.I., during the raid of Mar-a-Lago, threw documents haphazardly all over the floor (perhaps pretending that it was me that did it!), and then started taking pictures of them for the public to see.” > > But the genesis of the photograph appears to be in keeping with standard protocols for how federal agents handle evidence they come across in a search. > > The folders were arrayed by agents at Mar-a-Lago after being removed from what the filing indicated was Mr. Trump’s office — they were not discovered scattered on the floor, according to two federal law enforcement officials. > [@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. > > That’s the way I interpreted it, anyway. I don’t get why she made that statement on a Saturday, seemingly apropos of nothing. She’s a Trump appointee, and Glenn Kirschner thinks her statement of intent to appoint a Special Master was highly improper. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/J7eH9qprhbQ/hqdefault.jpg "Trump-appointed-judge Aileen Cannon grants Trump's demand for special master BEFORE DOJ weighs in") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7eH9qprhbQ) ---
**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, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2084 "2022-08-31T18:28:14Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > She’s a Trump appointee, and Glenn Kirschner thinks her statement of intent to appoint a Special Master was highly improper. In some jurisdictions (no idea about this court) is is common for the judge to issue “preliminary rulings” to help focus the arguments of counsel. None of this really matters. Special Master or no Special Master, the DOJ is doing it’s job. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2085 "2022-08-31T18:32:43Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 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. Another possibility, which I am inclined to believe is what’s going on, is Rupert Murdoch knows Trump is screwed and has given orders to start weaning the rubes off of Trump and begin the pivot to DeSantis. Give Trump a nudge off the cliff. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2086 "2022-08-31T18:34:34Z")
The document from the White House dated May 9th 2018 was the day after Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear dead. Interesting. What information in there is of value to him? Do any of the Top Serect stuff perhaps relate to other countries nuclear capabilities , like say Israel? ---
**Author:** ![dflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dflower/32/3270_2.png) [@dflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dflower)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2087 "2022-08-31T18:40:20Z")
Why did he take these documents? To what advantage is it to have the originals? They could be copied or photographed if the information was of value to him or whomever he is selling to. I don’t understand the choice of boxes full of the original classified documents. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2088 "2022-08-31T18:45:26Z")
> [@dflower](#): > > Why did he take these documents? To what advantage is it to have the originals? There is a whole other thread on that subject: > [@Why is trump keeping classified documents-- for what purpose does he want them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-keeping-classified-documents-for-what-purpose-does-he-want-them/970526): > > There’s some discussion of his reasons in the "FBI Search and Seizure’ thread, but that thread is so large and covers so much I thought that this subject might warrant its own thread. So my understanding is that trump didn’t run off with boxes of classified docs when he finally left the White House for the last time, he already had the documents at Mar-A-Lago because it had been designated a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) when trump was President and Mar-A-Lago was basicall… You’re probably better off posting that there. But either way, welcome back! ---
**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, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2089 "2022-08-31T18:45:41Z")
> [@dflower](#): > > Why did he take these documents? To what advantage is it to have the originals? They could be copied or photographed if the information was of value to him or whomever he is selling to. I don’t understand the choice of boxes full of the original classified documents. I would hazard a guess that having the originals meant others would not have the info on them at all. Perhaps their sensitive nature meant there were no other copies. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2090 "2022-08-31T18:46:46Z")
I don’t think the individual classifications for these documents would matter much if the charge was obstruction, and it sounds like that could be the slam dunkiest charge, plus conviction would come with, aiui, a ban on holding office in the future. ---
**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, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2091 "2022-08-31T18:47:08Z")
Habba either lied about the search she executed in her NY affidavit or she reviewed a bunch of classified documents she doesn’t have clearance to see. She’s likely to be disbarred as well. Right now she is on Charlie Kirk’s podcast, apparently clueless as to what this is all about: > ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2092 "2022-08-31T18:48:59Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > In some jurisdictions (no idea about this court) is is common for the judge to issue “preliminary rulings” to help focus the arguments of counsel. Kirchner and others think that Trump’s attorneys deliberately filed this in her court, rather than with the judge who ordered the search warrant (which would apparently be the normal choice), because they expected she would rule in their favor. And she did, without even bothering to hear from the other side. > None of this really matters. Special Master or no Special Master, the DOJ is doing it’s job. It may no longer matter on this specific issue, but what does matter is that this Trumpist judge is more loyal to him than the law. She should be impeached. Sadly, there are hundreds of other Trump-appointed judges out there who could be similarly perverting justice. ---
**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, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2093 "2022-08-31T18:51:08Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > It may no longer matter on this specific issue, but what does matter is that this Trumpist judge is more loyal to him than the law. She should be impeached. She hasn’t ruled yet, as far as I can tell. (ETA: Hearing is tomorrow) Also, I don’t think there is any way to file a new action “deliberately” in front of a particular judge. You file with the clerk, they assign a cause number and a judge. Maybe they figured out a way around that, but I’m skeptical. (partly, as others have noted, because the DOJ didn’t raise a stink about it) ---
**Author:** ![dflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dflower/32/3270_2.png) [@dflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dflower)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2094 "2022-08-31T18:51:22Z")
Thank you ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2095 "2022-08-31T18:57:46Z")
Okay, I misspoke. She hasn’t ruled, but she made a statement of her intent to appoint the Special Master (which is what Trump asked for) without hearing the other side. Several commentators I’ve seen, as well as people here, think it’s highly irregular that Trump’s lawyers didn’t file this with the original judge. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2096 "2022-08-31T19:48:40Z")
God all-fucking-mighty. I like the “mundane” adjective. I have no doubt that any humint assets overseas will be chuckling over the zany hijinks that led to this. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2097 "2022-08-31T20:02:01Z")
As everyone here certainly knows there have been a lot of crimes committed by Trump (just between 2016 and 2020), and as such there has been quite a few “We got him!” moments (all credit to John Oliver). But, while I maintain I will believe it when I see it, I think this might be the from which he cannot escape. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2098 "2022-08-31T20:05:30Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > As everyone here certainly knows there have been a lot of crimes committed by Trump (just between 2016 and 2020), and as such there has been quite a few “We got him!” moments (all credit to John Oliver). The problem is that those happened while he was President, and short of impeachment, he couldn’t be prosecuted. Impeachment wouldn’t work (though they tried twice) because Republicans would have to go along and they refused to. He is no longer PUSA. I remember many speculating on this board that if he didn’t win re-election, he’d be toast because he’d get nailed without the protection of the office. I believe we’re seeing that now. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2099 "2022-08-31T20:12:58Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I remember many speculating on this board that if he didn’t win re-election, he’d be toast because he’d get nailed without the protection of the office. I believe we’re seeing that now. Likewise on the speculating and I really hope we are seeing that now. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2100 "2022-08-31T20:19:36Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 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. Clearly BIDEN’S FBI had yet to plant the documents. [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=104) [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=106)