# 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:** 13
**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 9, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/241 "2022-08-09T21:46:21Z")
Not in that sense. Reporters can still see who’s following him around all the time and whether it’s the same people as last week, as well as whether they’re driving around in government-issued vehicles or private, and they can hear White House gossip and official proclamations by the SS itself. ---
**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 9, 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-15-2024/969329/242 "2022-08-09T21:53:07Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > It’s hard for me believe that Trump would agree to something this AND not simply go ahead and do it anyway. There must have been something in it for him. Trump doesn’t have an issue with rioters trashing the Capitol, but he probably doesn’t want them trashing his home. It was very much in his interest to not have an angry mob trying to break into his home to attack the FBI or “protect” his documents. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/243 "2022-08-09T21:55:26Z")
I did wonder if some brilliant soul would decide to set Mar-a-Lago on fire to smoke out the traitors. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/244 "2022-08-09T21:57:18Z")
> **[Hillary Clinton promotes 'But Her Emails' merch after FBI search of Trump's...](https://news.yahoo.com/hillary-clinton-trump-fbi-raid-mar-a-lago-but-her-emails-hat-183731036.html)** > > A day after federal agents conducted a search of the former president's home, the 2016 Democratic nominee responded by promoting merchandise emblazoned with what has become the sardonic response to his many scandals. ---
**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 9, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/245 "2022-08-09T22:04:45Z")
Minimum 12 more boxes found: > > **[Mar-a-Lago search appears focused on whether Trump, aides withheld items](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/09/trump-fbi-search-mar-a-lago/)** > > The FBI sought a search warrant after Archives officials pressed Trump’s circle to return what they believed was government property, according to people familiar with the discussions. ---
**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 9, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/246 "2022-08-09T22:07:10Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Trump doesn’t have an issue with rioters trashing the Capitol, but he probably doesn’t want them trashing his home. It was very much in his interest to not have an angry mob trying to break into his home to attack the FBI or “protect” his documents. I’m curious if they actually would or could. With no notice, you’re not going to end up with a 1/6 sized crowd. You’re also not going to get the complete loons that having been waiting for this all their lives and are going to show up armed to the teeth from all corners of the country. I mean, you’ll get some, but not like 1/6 where they had months to make arrangements. I feel like it would be mostly locals and a small number of people that live within a few hours (by car…er pick up truck). I would have thought that the FBI would have the resources to deal with that. However, they certainly still wouldn’t want to if it could be avoided. OTOH, maybe they made it extraordinarily clear that if he tweeted anything that might cause people to show up with violent intentions, he’ll be charged with inciting a riot and held responsible for any damages, injuries, deaths etc. I’m not sure how or if that’s possible, but if there’s a way, maybe that was it. I just have such a hard time believe they he stayed quiet without some real motivation. Besides, I feel like he’d be more than willing to allow his base to go on a suicide mission if it meant keeping whatever he’s hiding, hidden. Even if it only bought him an extra few days. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/247 "2022-08-09T22:11:43Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > “the cops” don’t get to decide anything. They seize what they seize, but it’s the judge who decides if they can keep it, and if it’s admissible as evidence. True, presuming that the defense sought to suppress the fruits of the search. But, to be clear, it’s not like a judge automatically reviews the search to decide if what was taken was proper - if there’s a challenge, it’s much later, after an arrest was made and charges were filed. In the meantime, police will have what they seize and they will review it. And, search warrant affidavits are nearly always drawn broadly enough to encompass things “inadvertently” discovered. Doing a drug bust? The police will describe things like paraphernalia in such a way that they can comb through drawers and other closed containers. In a case involving documents, they almost certainly included “electronic storage devices” (I.e. computers) and other “file storage”, which would likely have allowed them to grab entire boxes. The cops don’t need to do a limiting forensic examination at the scene. ---
**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 9, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/248 "2022-08-09T22:12:08Z")
One day later… looks like the Kraken has been unleashed for reals. > ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 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-15-2024/969329/249 "2022-08-09T22:16:52Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > One day later… He was selling pardons! The ledger was in the safe! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/250 "2022-08-09T22:19:29Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > In a case involving documents, they almost certainly included “electronic storage devices” (I.e. computers) And thumb drives and SD cards. Anywhere a thumb drive or SD card could be hidden, is a place they can search. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/251 "2022-08-09T22:21:49Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > [https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1557124189966016514?t=i06fkO2PCHDcxzEaxaMA9Q&s=19](https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1557124189966016514?t=i06fkO2PCHDcxzEaxaMA9Q&s=19) Seizure of Perry’s phone may well be connected to the Alex Jones data dump. I note that Perry was bitching that the FBI seized his phone, rather than politely requesting it through his lawyer. That’s right buddy. That’s how criminal cases are investigated. We don’t politely give the criminals time to dispose of the evidence. We go through procedures like getting a warrant from a judge. Sorry you don’t like how the law is structured. ETA: Sounds to me like the FBI is getting tired of phones being mysteriously wiped at opportune times, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/252 "2022-08-09T22:28:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Anywhere a thumb drive or SD card could be hidden, is a place they can search. And any thumb drive or SD card they find is one they can seize and then review later. Now, it would become a legal issue for the defense if evidence of other crimes was located on those devices - how far were they digging before the feds found it? If they were plausibly looking for evidence of the original purpose of the search warrant, then they are probably ok. But if they were far afield while they examined the additional evidence (say, for example, that they have the computer of a criminal and are looking for financial information- it may be hard to justify why they were watching videos when they found his kiddie porn), that may provide a basis to suppress that evidence. Again, though, this comes later, when the defendant has an attorney in court fighting the charges. At this point, the cops are combing through their haul to see what they can see, and doing so back at headquarters. ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/253 "2022-08-09T22:29:27Z")
There’s been some chatter – mostly from Fox News types and Republicans – that this actually helps Trump, because it’s feeding into his persecution narrative. Obviously, it depends upon what they found and what they do with it, but let’s take the worst case scenario – that they find nothing new, and nothing comes from any of this. Does this make Trump more sympathetic to anyone other than the full-blown MAGA types, or will everyone forget about it in a month or two? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 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-15-2024/969329/254 "2022-08-09T22:31:02Z")
It wont be nothing. Too many hoops had to be traversed to get this going. ---
**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 9, 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-15-2024/969329/255 "2022-08-09T22:31:41Z")
The video at the top of @susan 's link shows how Faux News is handling the RAID!! I wish I could link just to the video here, but I cannot copy the URL for some reason. Do we have anyone here on Truth Social that can report what’s being said over there today? Calling @Ann_Hedonia. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/256 "2022-08-09T22:33:55Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > There’s been some chatter – mostly from Fox News types and Republicans That’s all you need to know. It’s bullshit. Hopeful bullshit, but bullshit. ---
**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 9, 2022, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/257 "2022-08-09T22:34:22Z")
My gut tells me that the vast majority of the non-Manson-Family types feel like _any_ policy benefit that Trump represents(ed) can be had by nominating another, and then _all_ the incessant drama disappears. I think Nixon still had something like 24% approval in early-1974. Some people utterly cannot be swayed by any means short of a lobotomy (not that there’s anything wrong with that). ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/258 "2022-08-09T22:40:11Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > In a case involving documents, they almost certainly included “electronic storage devices” (I.e. computers) and other “file storage”, which would likely have allowed them to grab entire boxes. The cops don’t need to do a limiting forensic examination at the scene. That’s not what I’m contesting. Yes, they can seize anything within the scope of the search warrant, or anything else that is _in plain view and self-evidently related to another crime_. No, that doesn’t mean the prosecutor can expect to successfully use every document in every box (or computer) to develop evidence in support of new charges unrelated to the current investigation. Naturally there will be some gray area and overlap, but nobody should believe that Trump’s cracked safe is now an unrestricted candy store for the DOJ to support new unrelated charges. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/259 "2022-08-09T22:41:04Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > There’s been some chatter – mostly from Fox News types and Republicans – that this actually helps Trump, because it’s feeding into his persecution narrative. It doesn’t seem to HURT him. The Republicans are uniformly claiming this is a fascist move and Trump’s cultists are furious and screaming for blood. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 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-15-2024/969329/260 "2022-08-09T22:45:12Z")
The cultists are spoiled from 5 years of the law not applying to them. They had another thing coming. Long overdue. They’re going to scream but it’s for the best. Got to rip that band-aid right off. [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=12) [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=14)