# 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:** 116
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2301 "2022-09-02T18:05:30Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > > [@simster](#): > > > > Empty folders is the new battle cry to rebut the ‘but her emails’ - since we don’t know if they were simply ‘extra folders’ or ‘folders that are now missing the contents’ - which goes directly back to showing a careless regard for classified information and the storage thereof. > > Yeah. Maybe the empty folders were always empty and just some extra empty folders that got thrown in at the last minute, but since the trump administration was so cavalier (good term for it) with classified documents, who knows if they were always empty or used to have something in them? The “chain of custody” is completely lost, so IMO trump has no leg to stand on to claim that empty folders are a nothingburger. One wonders about the context, many of those documents were stored in boxes that also contained framed Time Magazine issues that Trump signed and gave to his visitors… a place to hide secret documents, a gift that most will not bother to check if inside such a tacky item, there was something that a mole or a mule was glad to take away. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2302 "2022-09-02T18:17:12Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > No, I don’t think so. The DOJ’s initial filing in response to Trump’s motion for a special master noted: I missed that. Early reporting talked about three: > **[Trump passports taken in FBI search of Mar-a-Lago returned to former president](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-passports-fbi-search-mar-a-lago/)** > > The FBI said in a statement it "follows search and seizure procedures ordered by courts, then returns items that we do not need to be retained for law enforcement purposes." “We have learned that the filter agents seized three passports belonging to President Trump, two expired and one being his active diplomatic passport. We are returning them, and they will be ready for pickup at WFO at 2 pm today,” Bratt wrote, referring to the bureau’s Washington field office. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2303 "2022-09-02T18:35:02Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > A significant part of Trump’s presidency seems to have been devoted to reading magazines. If he also spent as much time watching TV as is reported then we can probably all be thankful that, after all that, he didn’t have the free time to do anything else. I would wager real money he wasn’t reading anything beyond rapidly skimming and looking for references to himself. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2304 "2022-09-02T18:42:34Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I would wager real money he wasn’t reading anything beyond rapidly skimming and looking for references to himself . Agreed, _and_ references to people he wants to manipulate. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2305 "2022-09-02T19:09:30Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I also don’t believe he needs anyones permission to use the diplomatic passport. Was it a diplomatic passport (black cover) or official passport (maroon)? I thought it was the latter, but am unclear. He wouldn’t really need any US official’s permission to use a diplomatic/official passport, but the country he was trying to enter would have to accept its use and validity, and I could see that being really awkward for him if that other country chose to inquire as to his status. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2306 "2022-09-02T19:12:01Z")
His status? He has not been formally charged with any criminal acts, so his status is still former POTUS (in good standing, but no gold star). So far he is only under investigation and even if he was charged, does any country keep you out if you haven’t been convicted of a felony? And would a diplomatic passport bypass that as well, wouldn’t the US State Department need to officially revoke his diplomatic passport? ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2307 "2022-09-02T19:14:52Z")
No, I mean his status as an official legal representative of the US government. Diplomatic recognition (and immunity) is something given by the foreign country based on the US saying “yes, he is here as our emissary.” ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2308 "2022-09-02T19:16:46Z")
I believe that all former POTUS serve as official ambassadors of our country and have diplomatic passports. They represent democracy (I gag in this case). Its also provided if only to provide them with extra security when they travel abroad such as not going through customs. You don’t want a former POTUS risk getting kidnapped in a crowd. Again, up until now this hasn’t been a problem. Its a good question, could Trump shoot somebody in the middle of Paris and get away with it? Could France deny to recognize him as an ambassador? I believe they could. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2309 "2022-09-02T19:17:56Z")
# Russia’s Putin pays tribute to Gorbachev but won’t attend funeral" > **[Russia’s Putin pays tribute to Gorbachev but won’t attend funeral](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/1/russias-putin-pays-tribute-to-gorbachev-but-wont-attend-funeral)** > > Russian President Vladimir Putin denies the man who failed to prevent collapse of Soviet empire the full state honours. Just FYI ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2310 "2022-09-02T19:28:23Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Its also provided if only to provide them with extra security when they travel abroad such as not going through customs. I’d like a cite on this. From my admittedly limited observations, official and diplomatic passport holders typically go through customs too (although they may have a special and shorter line), and anyway his aides would not be entitled to diplomatic passports. The sitting president would not be compelled to go through border control and customs checks as a courtesy extended by the nation that invited him, but I’m not clear that other nations would extend the same courtesies to former presidents. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2311 "2022-09-02T19:30:48Z")
Another highly questionable source takes a stand _against_ TFG in this MAL/documents issue: > **[William Barr, on Fox, says there's no legitimate reason for classified docs...](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/02/politics/barr-trump-documents-fox/index.html)** > > "People say this \[raid\] was unprecedented -- well, it's also unprecedented for a president to take all this classified information and put them in a country club" I think there are too many money shots to excerpt under Fair Use, but it’s a quick read. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2312 "2022-09-02T19:32:05Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > I’d like a cite on this. I would too, but its difficult to do a search on this now because google is overflowed with references to Trump and diplomatic immunity. As best as I can figure is its yes and no. It depends on whether the country he is entering allows him to be recognized as an ambassador on his own accord. Perhaps if Biden actually did send him somewhere to represent the US in some capacity that would carry weight, but of course we don’t expect that to happen anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2313 "2022-09-02T19:39:10Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Perhaps if Biden actually did send him somewhere to **represent the US in some capacity** that would carry weight, but of course we don’t expect that to happen anytime soon. - You never know where a war might break out. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2314 "2022-09-02T19:47:30Z")
Ukraine may accept him, yes that would be interesting since he has so much experience and rapour with Zelenskyy. I sure they would respect and treat him well. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2315 "2022-09-02T20:07:40Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > We could have him attend Gorbachev’s funerial and hope he decides not to come back. Yeah, send him on Putin’s behalf, as he “has no time” to assist personally. He could do his old friend this favor. > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > diplomatic passport […] Its a for life perk like SS protection. And still he was so dumb as to let it expire? 🤦‍♂️ Yeah, of course he was… ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2316 "2022-09-02T20:28:53Z")
When you think of it, passports are a bit of a paradox as official documents go: they are issued in one country for the citizens of that country but are to be used abroad, where the country issuing them has no jurisdiction. As soon as the passport holder crosses the border and enters the international zone at the airport, before take off, the passport can be declared not valid. There was a similar case in Germany that went all the way to the Constitutional Court, the [Elfes case](https://germanlawarchive.iuscomp.org/?p=9), which law students still study today. The gist of the matter being that the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany allow free movement, but as they only apply to the territory of the FRG, they don’t give you the right to leave the country. That was long before Schengen, of course, 1957. It shows what strange documents passports are, based solely on convention and good faith between the parties/countries. And if somebody has shown disrespect for convention and good faith, it is TFG. Would laugh if that came to bite him (I know _that_ won’t, but something might, someday, and I will still laugh). ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2317 "2022-09-02T20:54:48Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > And still he was so dumb as to let it expire? 🤦‍♂️ Yeah, of course he was I don’t believe that is the one that expired. There were three. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2318 "2022-09-02T22:10:06Z")
I imagine Macron would give him the cold shoulder. TFG really threw a grenade in our laps with that one. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/2319 "2022-09-02T22:42:40Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Perhaps if Biden actually did send him somewhere to represent the US in some capacity that would carry weight, but of course we don’t expect that to happen anytime soon. Antarctica? ---
**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:** [September 2, 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-15-2024/969329/2320 "2022-09-02T22:52:45Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Ukraine may accept him, yes that would be interesting since he has so much experience and rapour with Zelenskyy. I sure they would respect and treat him well. 😁 I’ll bet they would want to send him on a goodwill tour to Kherson, to support the Ukrainian troops. [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=115) [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=117)