# 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:** 196
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3901 "2022-11-17T08:18:51Z")
I fucking hate that. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3902 "2022-11-17T08:49:27Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I expect he’ll indict sometime in December Which, by an amazing coincidence, is in two weeks. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3903 "2022-11-17T14:41:37Z")
And always will be. The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3904 "2022-11-17T14:54:01Z")
All I want for Christmas is an Indictment, An Indictment, An Indictment. Put it to music so I can turn it up loud. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3905 "2022-11-17T16:28:32Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > The hypocrisy is astonishing, or would be if I were capable of being astonished by his arrant hypocrisy anymore. The thing he’s claiming falsely he could do as President is the exact thing he complained that Hillary should be sent to jail for, since Obama as President could have authorized her as his designee to steal top secret documents and wipe her ass with them, if he wanted her to do that. There’s that, plus the fact that the Archives requested the return of records from Mar-a-Lago in the months before the search. If Trump had truly designated these as personal records while he was president, he could have denied the request from the Archives on that basis. He didn’t; Trump, through is attorneys, said there were no records at his home. Seems to me that that lie shows consciousness of guilt. And it should shoot this new motion in the foot, too; the first time they’re referring to these as personal records is almost two years after after Trump had the authority to declare them as such. i have no idea if either of those arguments carry any legal weight, or are appropriate at this stage of the case. ---
**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:** [November 18, 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-15-2024/969329/3906 "2022-11-18T18:47:16Z")
Breaking: Attorney General Merrick Garland to name special counsel in Trump criminal probe, report says > **[Attorney General Merrick Garland names Jack Smith special counsel in Trump...](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/18/attorney-general-merrick-garland-to-name-special-counsel-in-trump-criminal-probe-report-says.html)** > > Donald Trump faces multiple criminal investigations. A special counsel will be named to determine if federal charges should be lodged against the Republican. > [@](#): > > - U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland will appoint a special counsel to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against former President Donald Trump, according to a report. > - News of the planned appointment of the special counsel, which was reported by The Wall Street Journal, came three days after Trump announced plans to run for president in 2024. > - NBC News reported that the special counsel, whose name has not been announced, will make decisions for two Department of Justice investigations of Trump. > - One is focused on whether Trump broke the law and obstructed justice in connection with his removal of hundreds of documents from the White House, which were shipped to his residence at Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. > - The other probe is related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot by a mob of Trump supporters. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 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-15-2024/969329/3907 "2022-11-18T18:55:36Z")
Smartest move possible by DOJ at this point. ---
**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:** [November 18, 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-15-2024/969329/3908 "2022-11-18T18:55:50Z")
In light of how the mid-terms went, this isn’t really a surprise to me. Garland is going to be very busy pushing back against the House Republicans’ “investigations.” He’s only one person, and he has only so much time in a day. It’s also intended to insulate him somewhat from accusations of partisanship, but in this, I imagine it’s mostly wishful thinking. I just hope the special counsel is someone who’s been part of the investigation up to this point who won’t require a lot of time to get up to speed. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3909 "2022-11-18T19:08:29Z")
I suspect any special counsel will be perceived by republicans as a fig leaf. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3910 "2022-11-18T19:10:37Z")
I think this is an appropriate time and place to drop this particular gift link. It explains exactly why the DOJ is proceeding with caution and deliberation. It’s well worth a review. > **[Opinion | Trump Faces Five Major Investigations. He Has Dozens of Ways Out.](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/17/opinion/trump-five-major-investigations-dozens-of-ways-out.html?unlocked_article_code=ekTEdGIh3J_VtA1uvwaAU_TwQ7rNf8n02_ackTuIsbNH3zRPZ9OUnZJLMaCl9p_G8iysNWJyGx-QuWmamaiyNCw9ZTCn3KXh70SkCwdtoH6R1_64RWUiBhk5c2mWpu53WoPO6LpzDmuRrcGBjmc57EbypE3pIwUXXh5dUMuVFnzFl-pGiBDy7LTOJZTP1Un1PINXM9r-JG3raSQPXWAHS-WGsbut0O9Mu6_FD_B3gxqq0ERKeqrNirrNoq2ZP5Czx0WX43HSL8D-SRe_-uh6Iulx7RcIJBk4sdzboeu1EtlPAyrBW0v75V6Jt6tC1DV9U98CJbT7YOY4hHT89vMU3hlaLZws_eOLPPsAUTecrtsSm4C-BB0sL4AkVja2aWvYmumjDhcT6_-n1bxCkg&smid=share-url)** > > How Trump’s unique status as both former president and presidential candidate could bend the legal system in his favor. Charging is a minefield. I still believe it will happen. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3911 "2022-11-18T19:10:49Z")
Clearly, but the only way to satisfy Republicans on this point is not to investigate at all, which is not a legitimate option ---
**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:** [November 18, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3912 "2022-11-18T19:26:41Z")
Looks like this is our huckleberry: [**JACK SMITH**](https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/jack-smith) [I’m guessing it’s okay to post all of this] > [@](#): > > Jack Smith was appointed First Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee in February of 2015. Prior to his appointment[…] (Ellipsis added by Aspenglow.) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3913 "2022-11-18T19:29:16Z")
jack smith. huh. interesting choice. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 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-15-2024/969329/3914 "2022-11-18T19:31:19Z")
“‘Special counsel’ is just another phrase for ‘sweep it under the rug.’” - random Redditor What’s the SD on how big a step this is? ---
**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:** [November 18, 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-15-2024/969329/3915 "2022-11-18T19:39:56Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > [I’m guessing it’s okay to post all of this] As stated in the staff notice, I’m not sure. No worries, I edited the quote text and think the link will suffice for those of us who care about this. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3916 "2022-11-18T19:46:03Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > What’s the SD on how big a step this is? My opinion only… you don’t appoint a special counsel except if you plan to proceed. Much easier (if not less politically fraught) to simply decline to prosecute. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3917 "2022-11-18T19:46:07Z")
I guess “John Smith” sounded phony. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3918 "2022-11-18T20:21:31Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I guess “John Smith” sounded phony.   LOL … beat me to it! You’d think the guy would at least have the courage to reveal his real name! 😃 ---
**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:** [November 18, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3919 "2022-11-18T20:34:27Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > “‘Special counsel’ is just another phrase for ‘sweep it under the rug.’” - random Redditor > > What’s the SD on how big a step this is? Just IMHO of course but, in general, I’d say that having a special counsel put on you when the goal is to investigate allegations against the activities of the in-office President is a very different thing from having a special counsel put on you when you’re out of office and there’s already been a fair amount of work put in, in advance, going through the materials that were seized under warrant from your big room of hidden documents. My suspicion is that the latter happens when shit going to go down and the DOJ needs a buffer zone. I’m guessing that Smith will drop the documents thing and continue with the more serious stuff. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/3920 "2022-11-18T20:38:36Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I’m guessing that Smith will drop the documents thing and continue with the more serious stuff. ⁢ It would seem odd to me to get rid of the one surefire conviction, seeing as Trump literally confessed to the crime. Plus the US takes classified information quite seriously. Trump severely damaged national security by letting that level of documents get out. [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=195) [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=197)