# 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:** 18
**Author:** ![Oxido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9adbd/32.png) [@Oxido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oxido)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/341 "2022-08-10T17:07:06Z")
What if there’s a post-it note on top of the cocaine that reads " Don’t forget to pair this with the black market panda livers in the garage freezer" ? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/342 "2022-08-10T17:10:39Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I suspect this is right-wing media clap-trap, intended to scare Democrats into thinking they have done something wrong here. TFG was going to run anyway (as long as he is legally able to). Besides, not investigating or prosecuting a sitting President is not law but rather a long-standing tradition. Since Republicans seem keen on overturning those – stuff like peaceful transfer of power and a non-political judicial branch – what’s one more? ---
**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:** [August 10, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/343 "2022-08-10T17:39:47Z")
Well, in that case you are just hosed. 😛 ---
**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 10, 2022, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/344 "2022-08-10T18:00:49Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > What if, when asked about the missing documents, Trump and his team stonewalled and delayed, saying they were being stored securely but he was not prepared to release them, yet? What if the DOJ obtained very credible evidence that the records in question were no longer at Mar-A-Largo? What if hey were concerned that a team of counterfeiters was working at duplicating false documents to replace the missing ones? You can’t prove a negative. Searching Mar-a-Lago and not finding anything doesn’t prove that Trump is destroying documents, nor does it prove that they’re no longer under his control. If you have footage of Trump burning documents or of him giving them away to Chinese dignitaries then that’s proof of something. But an absence of a thing doesn’t prove that the thing doesn’t exist. He might have moved the documents to a secondary, even more secure and secretive location. There’s no way to prove that he didn’t do that unless you do find the documents. ---
**Author:** ![Oxido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9adbd/32.png) [@Oxido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oxido)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/345 "2022-08-10T18:39:53Z")
You have to think that this explains a lot of the GOP’s comments and behavior. They all realize, one wrong word toward TFG and they and their family could be targeted by violent cult members. I wonder if any poli-sci majors are questioning their dreams of going into politics after all this… ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/346 "2022-08-10T18:41:34Z")
> [@Oxido](#): > > They all realize, one wrong word toward TFG and they and their family could be targeted by violent cult members. Doesn’t this belong in the Schadenfreude thread? ---
**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 10, 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-15-2024/969329/347 "2022-08-10T18:47:22Z")
> [@Oxido](#): > > What if there’s a post-it note on top of the cocaine that reads " Don’t forget to pair this with the black market panda livers in the garage freezer" ? It wouldn’t be unprecedented for police to pause in the middle of a search and apply for a new search warrant to get into the new location. They don’t leave the premises; they just send somebody over to the “duty judge” (the one who is on call to handle such things, even if it’s 3 am) to get additional authorization. Of course, police usually craft warrants as broad as possible, so if they are in a house they will have already sought all areas of it. But maybe they stumble onto some outlying buildings or something. ---
**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 10, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/348 "2022-08-10T18:49:48Z")
Ah, yes, the auxiliary panda freezer across the way. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 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-15-2024/969329/349 "2022-08-10T18:51:17Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > You can’t prove a negative. Searching Mar-a-Lago and not finding anything doesn’t prove that Trump is destroying documents, nor does it prove that they’re no longer under his control. I agree that it’s difficult, but very, very few adults believe in the Tooth Fairy, so for all intents and purposes, it can be done. And, while it would be difficult to use my scenario to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump was destroying documents, they do not have to prove that he destroyed them, just that he no longer possessed them. He would then have the option of coming up with another reason for why he doesn’t produce them or “take the fifth” which would likely result in a stipulation that he does not have them. I freely admit that this is all speculation, but as far as I can see, it fits what few facts we have. I just haven’t heard anything along these lines. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/350 "2022-08-10T18:54:19Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Not one but two Trump lawyers were on TV today suggesting that the FBI may have planted evidence. Saw this on Twitter: The only thing planted at a Trump property was Ivana. ---
**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 10, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/351 "2022-08-10T18:55:54Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > very, very few adults believe in the Tooth Fairy, so for all intents and purposes, it can be done. I am, personally, satisfied that the man is a lazy bastard - at least, he is here on Earth - but I’m unaware of any proof that he doesn’t exist or that he’s equally delinquent in other locales. But, in terms of the Tooth Fairy, we have a fairly large scouting group and a lot of public knowledge on the subject. I’m not sure that the FBI searching one location rises to the level where society, in general, could be confident that the documents are no longer in Trump’s possession. ---
**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 10, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/352 "2022-08-10T19:03:59Z")
> [@susan](#): > > the auxiliary panda freezer across the way You joke, but _warm_ panda liver tastes like shit (NB: unless liberally coated in Peruvian flake). ---
**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 10, 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-15-2024/969329/353 "2022-08-10T19:28:26Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Kerry Sanders of MSNBC, former aide to Kamala Harris, asks people to stop calling it a raid. It’s a legally executed search warrant. Those people in that article objecting to the term “raid” clearly don’t know what that word means, and they should, these are supposed to be professionals. > “Agents don’t like the word ‘raid,’ they don’t like it. It sounds like it’s some sort of extrajudicial, non-legal thing. It’s an execution of a search warrant. It’s a court-authorized search warrant,” he said. But that’s not what “raid” means. A police raid is a perfectly legal execution of a warrant. What differentiates it from a normal search is that it’s done in such a way to prevent evidence from being destroyed, and/or to prevent persons of interest from fleeing. So they are typically done without advance notice and usually at odd hours of the day. > **[Definition of RAID](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raid)** > > a hostile or predatory incursion; a surprise attack by a small force; a brief foray outside one's usual sphere… See the full definition > a sudden invasion by officers of the law > **[Raid Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/raid)** > > RAID meaning: 1 : a surprise attack on an enemy by soldiers or other military forces; 2 : an occurrence in which police suddenly enter a place in a forceful way to find criminals, illegal drugs, etc. > an occurrence in which police suddenly enter a place in a forceful way to find criminals, illegal drugs, etc. “Forceful” does not necessarily mean with violence, it means that they do so with the force of law; they don’t ask permission and don’t have to. Which a warrant allows them to do. [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/raid](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/raid) > If the police raid a building, they enter it suddenly and by force in order to look for dangerous criminals or for evidence of something illegal, such as drugs or weapons. Seriously, they should know better. This is why the press and others use the term. It’s possible that this wasn’t a raid. Perhaps the FBI informed the Secret Service (or others) ahead of time that they were coming. Perhaps they didn’t act with urgency (they were there for a long time). They certainly didn’t show up before dawn, I believe it was 9 AM which is a reasonable time of the morning when most people would be expected to already be awake. So it is possible that this wasn’t a raid, but not for the reason these people are saying. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/354 "2022-08-10T19:31:39Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > in general, could be confident that the documents are no longer in Trump’s possession. Which - based on the earlier quote about the law in question - is more than enough. **Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding, map, book, document, paper, or other thing, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.** ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/355 "2022-08-10T20:06:13Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > That’s the part that drives me nuts. All of Trump’s “achievements” during his presidency fall into two categories: Trump, perhaps more than any other human being in history, single handedly made them feel good about being human garbage. We were making social progress, effectively shaming people who were bigoted and hateful, and they resented it, but were starting to hold back in public and even maybe become a little less shitty. And then the shittiest, most ignorant, most loud mouthed unjustifiably confident hateful pieces of human garbage rose to the top. He was able to get away with saying all the things they’ve been shamed out of saying. He vindicated their feelings, pushed back th tide of progress. You’re right that the republican leadership could’ve got what they wanted from another republican. But they stirred up all of this hatred and ignorance but at least gave a fig leaf of cover and used dog whistles and such. When Trump came along and said the quiet part out loud, he hijacked the machine they used fox news/facebook/etc to create. They couldn’t out-extreme Trump, and the inmates took over the asylum. They thought it was going to sink them - Trump brought everything they were trying to do out into the open and more extreme, and they thought the American people would reject this. They underestimated the evil and ignorance of their own base. And then when they realized that Trump wasn’t going to alienate their core base, that they were such garbage that they actually felt extreme personal loyalty to him, they decided that’s the future of their party and tried to out-crazy each other to keep up. Anyway, that’s why Trump, and not some generic republican candidate. In 2016, they wish they had a generic republican candidate, but after that - after Trump opened that door and found out just how low the republican base can go - they’re all in on this road they’re currently on. ---
**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 10, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/356 "2022-08-10T20:22:08Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Trump, perhaps more than any other human being in history, single handedly made them feel good about being human garbage. We were making social progress, effectively shaming people who were bigoted and hateful, and they resented it, but were starting to hold back in public and even maybe become a little less shitty. > > And then the shittiest, most ignorant, most loud mouthed unjustifiably confident hateful pieces of human garbage rose to the top. He was able to get away with saying all the things they’ve been shamed out of saying. He vindicated their feelings, pushed back th tide of progress. While I think this theory has some merit, I think that the larger element is that Fox and Tucker Carlson are calling the shots. Propaganda is effective and 80% of everyone (assuming that the people in the middle of the country are genetically indistinguishable from the people on the coasts) is quite happy to subject themselves to it, on an ongoing basis. From Fox’s standpoint, the whole business model is to propagandize for the Republican party, regardless of all logic and morality - even if it’s harmful to the country that they themselves are living in (and even if most of what Tucker contributes is closer to 1960s Southern Democratic policy, not modern Republican policy). And, quite likely, the people who work there are so deep in it that they’ve confused themselves on the matter, as well, and don’t realize that they’re being dishonest, just “putting out an alternate and unpopular position”. As they say, it’s difficult for someone to convince himself that a thing is bad when his paycheck depends on it being good. The whole thing is a race to the bottom - and Fox is just ahead of the curve on all of this. Market forces are simply going to make it all more necessary to go where the cash is - and you’re just throwing away good money by trying to do otherwise. Eventually, you’ll be bought out and transformed by the companies who had no such scruples, or lose your audience to the more sensational and salacious alternatives. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/357 "2022-08-10T21:11:16Z")
I don’t know how reliable RadarOnline is as a source, but [they say there was a mole at Mar-a-Lago](https://radaronline.com/p/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-mole-ratted-out-president-15-boxes/) who tipped off the feds. I’ve seen a Lincoln Project video that suggested this, but I wasn’t sure if they were just planting the idea or if they’d read the same articles. EDIT: Mea culpa-I’ve just read it more closely and they only **suggest** a mole, not confirm it. ---
**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 10, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/358 "2022-08-10T21:14:45Z")
A mole? Or a gopher? [![](https://thumbs.gfycat.com/EnormousMatureIndianhare-size_restricted.gif) ](https://thumbs.gfycat.com/EnormousMatureIndianhare-size_restricted.gif) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/359 "2022-08-10T21:16:54Z")
I just heard that it’s reported that it was documents _and_ gifts in the boxes they took yesterday. He probably thought all those tchotchkes various heads of state gave the president were his personally to keep. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/360 "2022-08-10T21:25:49Z")
While it’s by no means exhaustive, I like the NPR article which suggests, via interview with a Trump attorney, that it is indeed all about documents rather than gifts (although I totally see that within Trump’s mind, anything to the Prez stays his as @carrps pointed out). > **[Mystery at Mar-a-Lago: What were FBI agents looking for and what are the...](https://www.npr.org/2022/08/09/1116575413/mar-a-lago-fbi-raid-trump-search)** > > A federal search warrant like the kind carried out at the home of former President Donald Trump would require detailed evidence and sign-off at the highest levels of the DOJ, legal experts said. > The raid concerned presidential records that Trump removed from the White House when he left office in January 2021, according to Christina Bobb, an attorney representing Trump. > > The FBI search warrant authorized agents to seize “presidential records or any possibly classified material,” Bobb said in a Tuesday interview on the Dinesh D’Souza [podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dinesh-dsouza-podcast/id1547827376?i=1000575549187). The search took about 10 hours, she added. [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=17) [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=19)