# 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:** 154
**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:** [September 20, 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-15-2024/969329/3061 "2022-09-20T22:00:17Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > How the hell did Cannon get involved in this in the first place? [Judge shopping.](https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-went-judge-shopping-and-it-paid-off-in-mar-a-lago-case) ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 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-15-2024/969329/3062 "2022-09-20T22:10:12Z")
After the FBI seized the documents, Trump filed a motion in the Southern District of Florida asking the Court to appoint a special master and review the documents for “reasons”, etc (everything we’re discussing about that part). Unless someone can show me otherwise (and I may have just missed it), the normal process is you file your case (here a motion) with the Southern District clerk. You can forum shop and pick your district (leaving aside venue/jurisdiction issues), but you cannot pick your Judge. Once filed, the clerk will randomly assign you a Judge. Trump hit the lottery and got Judge Cannon. There are probably 20 or so Judges in the Southern District of Florida and I’d assume they could all potentially hear his motion. I’m unclear how many of those would be considered “hitting the lottery” for Trump, but I imagine Cannon is at the top. ---
**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 20, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3063 "2022-09-20T22:14:01Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > You can forum shop and pick your district (leaving aside venue/jurisdiction issues), but you cannot pick your Judge. Once filed, the clerk will randomly assign you a Judge. Trump hit the lottery and got Judge Cannon. There are probably 20 or so Judges in the Southern District of Florida and I’d assume they could all potentially hear his motion. I’m unclear how many of those would be considered “hitting the lottery” for Trump, but I imagine Cannon is at the top. They filed in a _one judge_ outlying courthouse 70 miles from the main courthouse (that probably had 20 District Court Judges). The chances of getting Cannon were very good. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3064 "2022-09-20T22:17:06Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Once Trump’s lawyers had suggested Huck and Dearie and the DOJ had said “We’re fine with Dearie actually!”, saying “I think it should be Huck!” would have been beyond the pale. As with anything Trump, the pale is now orbiting somewhere beyond the Oort Cloud, so getting beyond it requires a warp drive of some kind. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3065 "2022-09-20T22:18:48Z")
As above. They filed in Fort Pierce where it was highly likely, though not guaranteed (they tried this one other time that failed), that Cannon would be assigned as she’s the only judge sitting in that region. That’s 70 miles away vs the courthouse that’s a 15 minute drive from Mar a Lago. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 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-15-2024/969329/3066 "2022-09-20T22:21:42Z")
Trumps gambling industry experience finally paid off. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3067 "2022-09-20T22:53:40Z")
I see, and no reason to disagree. I’m aware Districts are divided down further into regional divisions, but thought you file with clerk and assignment was random unless there was good reason it should be in a specific region (ie, most of stuff happened in Key West and that’s _really far_ from other courthouses). I thought that assignment would be made by the Clerk (or maybe Chief Judge). Maybe it’s flipped and you can file into a specific regional division and it’ll stay there unless there is good reason it should not. In this case, yes, Judge Cannon is the only Judge in that region so it’s not very random. However, she’s in Fort Pierce (and the only one), yet I see “West Palm Beach” which is another division on all the court filings and West Palm Beach court house is where all the hearings are happening. So, benefit of the Judge you want without having to actually travel to Fort Pierce. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3068 "2022-09-21T01:19:18Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Well, it is unusual that Judge Cannon did not allow any phones or electronic devices in her court. Actually, it isn’t unusual in federal court, in terms of recording or broadcasting the proceedings. I proofread transcripts for official reporters in the Massachusetts and Hawaii U.S. District Court system, and such restrictions are regularly put on the record at the start of hearings. State courts have their own rules on such things, which I am not familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3069 "2022-09-21T01:26:53Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Be careful! They have weapons of meows destruction! They’re pointy on five ends! ---
**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:** [September 21, 2022, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3070 "2022-09-21T01:39:23Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > …in the Massachusetts and Hawaii U.S. District Court system… Seems an odd pairing. Is the travelling an issue? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3071 "2022-09-21T01:43:10Z")
No, I receive .txt drafts of transcripts, usually of pretrial hearings, plea agreements, and post-verdict dispositions, occasionally of trial days, via email, proof them, PDF the correction pages, and email them back to the reporters. I have three USDC clients in Massachusetts and one in Hawaii for whom I used to proofread when she was a freelance reporter in Massachusetts. I work at home here in the Bay State. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3072 "2022-09-21T02:03:23Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8FHAp51WyZs/maxresdefault.jpg "🦸‍♂️🐶‘DC League of Super Pets’🦸‍♀️🐭 Whiskers is just a sweet, little purr-purr baby") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FHAp51WyZs) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3073 "2022-09-21T09:33:46Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > So why did Trump nominate Dearie? I can only surmise that, as always, Trump is being advised by “the best people” Maybe they slowly and patiently told him that _“if you’re asked, just say ‘Huck,’ dearie.”_ ---
**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:** [September 21, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3074 "2022-09-21T13:52:12Z")
I believe that Trump’s power is waning. The Senate passed Resolution 775 unanimously, which condemns calls for violence against the FBI, and criticizes Trump specifically. No Republican objected. Furthermore, the resolution talks about how the FBI’s seizure of government documents from Mar-a-Lago was necessary and appropriate. Again, it passed unanimously. > **[Congress Minutes: Essential news and analysis from Sep 20, 2022](https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/09-20-2022/condemning-fbi-employee-violence/)** > > News and analysis from Capitol Hill for when you only have a few minutes, from POLITICO. > **[Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution Condemning Violence and Threats of...](https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-resolution-condemning-violence-and-threats-of-violence-against-the-fbi)** > > The Official U.S. Senate website of Dick Durbin [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MNSLCZZQEO8/maxresdefault.jpg "NEW: Senate CONDEMNS Trump’s DESPICABLE anti-FBI conduct in SCATHING UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNSLCZZQEO8) ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3075 "2022-09-21T14:06:10Z")
I don’t understand what’s typical senate procedure for things like this, but this was a non-binding resolution passed by unanimous consent on a day when the general order of business was renaming post offices. I don’t think it means much, unfortunately. I’m not sure who would have even been there to object. [And half of all republicans support Trump in his tiff with the FBI.](https://www.reuters.com/legal/half-republicans-line-up-behind-trump-fight-with-fbi-reutersipsos-2022-08-18/) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3076 "2022-09-21T14:08:14Z")
The resolution itself says nothing about trump. That was all Durbin’s set-up.“Unanimous Consent” means nothing. Didn’t that procedure get everybody worked up a few months ago when the Repubs slipped something into the UC docket and nobody noticed? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3077 "2022-09-21T14:11:44Z")
The preamble, which was also accepted, does mention Trump. But… Meidas Touch Network? That youtube title borders on misinformation. This whole stunt is pretty transparent and we should be better than this. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3078 "2022-09-21T14:32:32Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > The preamble, which was also accepted, does mention Trump. [Twice.](https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/LIP22539.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3079 "2022-09-21T15:10:54Z")
nm plus words for discourse ---
**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:** [September 21, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3080 "2022-09-21T15:15:00Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Especially since he wasn’t misled on the FISA court. The dangers of drinking your own Kool-aid. Just because you’ve been telling everyone that the FISA court was obviously misled doesn’t mean the FISA court thinks it was misled. [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=153) [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=155)