# 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:** 107
**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, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2121 "2022-08-31T21:13:29Z")
Right, but as the government’s response (and many commentators) point out, such filings are usually made immediately, not two weeks after the event in question. For reasons that are now obvious. In any case, as @Procrustus pointed out to me, she didn’t make an immediate _ruling,_ but simply stated her _intent_ to appoint the Special Master, after only hearing Trump’s side. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2122 "2022-08-31T21:36:14Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Right, but as the government’s response (and many commentators) point out, such filings are usually made immediately, not two weeks after the event in question. For reasons that are now obvious. 1. John files an emergency request to a judge. 2. Judge decides that there’s no merit, without asking for the two sides to come in and give a full explanation, and denies the request. 3. The judge is shown to be wrong and, later, John goes free on appeal. Wahn waaaah. vs. 1. John files an emergency request to a judge. 2. Judge believes that there’s no merit but opts for the safer option and temporarily calls a hold. 3. John and the prosecutor make their case to the judge and, unexpectedly, John successfully demonstrates that he had legitimate case. Good thing the judge didn’t decide before hearing arguments! Trump’s lawyers waiting for two weeks is Trump and his lawyers’ issue. For the judge, the course of action is simple and clear: There’s no harm (to the judge) in asking people to hold their horses for a couple of days and, prior to getting briefed, every chance that the judge’s sense of who will win being proven wrong. Maybe Team Trump discovered something in the two weeks that made them realize that it was worth filing the request and, certainly, it’s conceivable that the government might have been spending two weeks figuring out the red tape around how to create a filter team that can sort through deeply sensitive materials, and hadn’t cracked open a single folder. Until you get briefed, you’re just making up hogwash out of hot air. Better to wait and find out the whole story, first. ---
**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, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2123 "2022-08-31T21:53:32Z")
Let’s make the governments case for them, shall we? [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52325638713_43e936dd24.jpg "20220831\_164948") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68782016@N08/52325638713/) ---
**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, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2124 "2022-08-31T21:54:15Z")
PUSA is what’s squoze from an anal abscess. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2125 "2022-08-31T22:00:12Z")
“I did an excellent job organizing my stolen documents. Many people are saying it was the most organized carton they’ve ever seen.” ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2126 "2022-08-31T22:03:47Z")
It’s a Perry Mason moment! Openly admitting to your crimes is why you can’t have nice lawyers Donald! ---
**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, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2127 "2022-08-31T22:08:27Z")
Everyone shush! Shhhh! Let him talk, or Truth, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2128 "2022-08-31T22:16:55Z")
These documents that he had all boxed up… these are the ones the FBI planted? 🤨 ---
**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, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2129 "2022-08-31T22:22:13Z")
OK, this is interesting. _National Review_ just published (as in, 2 hours ago) an editorial by one of their Senior Fellows, long-time contributor Andrew McCarthy: “Why Yesterday’s DOJ Filing Suggests a Trump Indictment Is Coming”, in which he says this: > [@](#): > > Now that we’ve seen more of the government’s proof in this regard, I believe former president Trump is likely to be charged with obstruction of justice and causing false statements to be made to investigators. It does not appear that those charges would be difficult to prove. Proving them does not involve navigating the same complications that would arise from trying to prove classified-information offenses. Just as critical, they involve conduct that would be very easy for the public to understand, and for which the average person would be indicted. > > Trump apologists would surely counter that a not-so-average person named Hillary Clinton was not indicted for recklessly mishandling classified information, actually destroying thousands of government records, and making misleading statements (such as the laughable claim that she did not understand classified markings) in her FBI interview. Of course, the Biden Justice Department would not be very sympathetic to that analogy, and Trump would not exactly be arguing from a position of strength if his best defense were that someone else was not charged for comparably serious crimes. Trump’s better hope may be that he is more useful to Democrats as a badly compromised Republican presidential candidate than as a criminal defendant. (Do note with that last he shows himself to be puro Fash, assuming this is all politically motivated and rather totes OK with the idea.) This is no mere RINO, Andrew here wrote a book saying the _true_ collusion in 2016 was between Hillary and Obama and he’s been licking the Trump taint since then. But even he cannot deny this any longer. It may be paywalled, but it’s a good article. Even more fascinating are the titles of the “see further…” pieces below: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52325805420_ceb738a78b_b.jpg "SmartSelect\_20220831-170116\_Samsung Internet") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68782016@N08/52325805420/) Here’s that ‘After Trump’ article which may have caught your eye: > **[After Trump | National Review](https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2022/09/12/after-trump/)** > > What will the GOP look like? Hmmm. Yeah, with this quote (and others) I’m thinking the NR has achieved “fuck that guy” escape velocity: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52325829515_a2bcdb6342_b.jpg "SmartSelect\_20220831-172928\_Samsung Internet") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68782016@N08/52325829515/) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2130 "2022-08-31T22:31:51Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Everyone shush! Shhhh! “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” – Napoleon ---
**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, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2131 "2022-08-31T22:38:04Z")
“Your Honor, that picture is bullshit! I keep my cocaine in the toilet tank, not just laid out on the table like that!” BTW, Trump’s team has 2 hours to respond to the filing. I’m sure it will be quoted by legal scholars for years, decades to come. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2132 "2022-08-31T22:45:33Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > the best case scenario here is a plea agreement that includes an agreement banning him from ever holding a security clearance again. He doesn’t have one now. Biden revoked it when he took office. ---
**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, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2133 "2022-08-31T22:52:31Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > While I’d love to see Trump in prison, the best case scenario here is a plea agreement that includes an agreement banning him from ever holding a security clearance again. I’m not sure what you’re basing this conclusion on. Each count of Obstruction carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. Each. Count. Does each stolen document make a separate count? I don’t know, but they might. No prosecutor is under the obligation to offer a plea agreement. They often choose to do so based on the strength or the weakness of their case. A weak case might bring a generous plea offer. Strong cases, especially cases where the prosecution wishes to make an example for future reference, often bring no offer of a plea. DOJ has a righteous case here. And you can do the math on those Obstruction counts if they are served consecutive. ---
**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, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2134 "2022-08-31T22:55:46Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > PUSA is what’s squoze from an anal abscess. Even more appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2135 "2022-08-31T23:00:26Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > 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.” That misses out the best bit of the Trump TS postings, which was where he said > [@Donald Trump on Truth Social](#): > > There seems to be confusion as to the “picture” where documents were sloppily thrown on the floor and then released photographically for the world to see, as if that’s what the FBI found when they broke into my home. Wrong! **They took them out of cartons** and spread them around on the carpet, making it look like a big “find” for them. They dropped them, not me - Very deceiving…And remember, we could have NO representative, including lawyers, present during the Raid. They were told to wait outside. Bolding mine. So in his rant about the picture, Trump just openly admitted that he had a carton of classified documents in his home and that he knew about it. I’m sure his lawyers will be thrilled about this. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2136 "2022-08-31T23:03:34Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” – Napoleon [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/liMRgWlfUKQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Trump DEMANDS He Either Be Reinstated As President Or Get A New Election") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liMRgWlfUKQ) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2137 "2022-08-31T23:25:47Z")
I just reread the subject line of this thread. I _wish_ the FBI had seized Mar-A-Lago. The explosion of Trump’s head would’ve been spectacular. ---
**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, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2138 "2022-08-31T23:28:42Z")
LOL, you’re right! I’ll edit that. My mistake. 🙂 ---
**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, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2139 "2022-08-31T23:33:39Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Until you get briefed, you’re just making up hogwash out of hot air. Which is exactly what the judge did by stating her intent to appoint a Special Master before she heard the government’s side. I agree with the general cases you have presented in your posts, but I don’t see how they are in any way analogous to the case here. The Trump-appointed judge said she was going to do what Trump asked her to do before she heard the other side’s reasons why she shouldn’t. There was no emergency. And the harm was further delaying the ongoing investigation, which is Trump’s long-standing _modus operandi_ and clear intent in filing this bogus motion in a court he had reason to believe would be (and in fact was) sympathetic to him, instead of with the original magistrate judge, who probably would have laughed him out of court. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2140 "2022-08-31T23:38:02Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Let’s rebrand it to “NARA-lardo”, as that makes more sense. Still not getting it. 🧐 is it meant to be funny? [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=106) [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=108)