# 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:** 277
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5521 "2023-06-11T15:55:51Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > “Oh my god. The Trump sh\*t. F\*\*k man, it’s _his_ apartment. The killer real-estate molester? We shot in his apartment. We needed the ugliest, most garish, horrifying real-estate developer apartment we could possibly find, and Trump threw his apartment at us. We didn’t have to [do anything]. If you look at the movie, that’s his f’n shit-bag apartment with all Versailles gilt and the high-rise windows. It’s just so perfect." Does that include the morphing fornicating relief figures on the walls? ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5522 "2023-06-11T15:57:52Z")
Did anyone notice that short toilet? I’d need several strong men to pull me up after doing my business. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5523 "2023-06-11T15:58:11Z")
Hey, if trump and Walt were tried as co-conspirators, would it be fair to have radically different sentences? trump luxuriating at Mara Lardo while walt is filed away in some Supermax? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5524 "2023-06-11T16:13:14Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Does that include the morphing fornicating relief figures on the walls? I’m sure they are just playing Leap Frog. An innocent children’s game (‘The Birdcage’ movie reference). ---
**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:** [June 11, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5525 "2023-06-11T16:21:20Z")
> [@frognot](#): > > Guess pronouns are important. Their pronouns are “hypocrite.” ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5526 "2023-06-11T16:37:10Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’m about 97% sure it’s satire. If this is “The Price Is Right”, I’m 97.1% certain. Otherwise, I’d go out on a limb with 100%. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5527 "2023-06-11T16:57:03Z")
My local paper gets the USA Today editorials. They play both sides. Some weeks they offer true MAGAnuts saying things that will sour the milk on your breakfast cereal. The intervening weeks they run Rex Huppke. Half the readership is sickened every week. But nobody can say they aren’t “fair.” ---
**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:** [June 11, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5528 "2023-06-11T17:10:49Z")
Speaking of USA Today, here’s an article which quotes Bill Barr as saying Trump is in trouble, stating “if even half of it is true, then he’s toast.” On Fox News Sunday, no less. > **[Barr slams Trump over classified documents indictment: If 'half of it is...](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/barr-slams-trump-over-classified-documents-indictment-if-half-of-it-is-true-then-he-s-toast/ar-AA1cpb6q)** > > Former Attorney General Bill Barr called the indictment against former President Donald Trump over his handling of classified documents "damning." ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5529 "2023-06-11T17:34:27Z")
The way trump is his own worst enemy reminded me of this Simpsons moment, [when Bart provides airtight evidence against himself.](https://youtu.be/jaUgTwKu6vs?t=114) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5530 "2023-06-11T21:03:55Z")
I know we’re all having a good time picturing Trump in an orange jumpsuit and behind bars… But seriously: if he is convicted, what kind of sentence is likely to be handed down? Considering that it is indeed a serious felony, but it’s also non-violent crime and the defendant is 76 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5531 "2023-06-11T21:12:34Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > But seriously: if he is convicted, what kind of sentence is likely to be handed down? Considering that he’s never experienced any kind of actual punishment, or probably even discomfort, in his entire life, even the mildest sentence will be excruciating to him. Imagine him on house arrest, trying to wrap his head around the notion that no, in fact, he’s _not_ allowed to shuttle between states every season. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5532 "2023-06-11T21:17:01Z")
“Non violent”? Seems like a generous description when its nuclear secrets and plans for a hypothetical war against Iran. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5533 "2023-06-11T21:42:50Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Considering that he’s never experienced any kind of actual punishment, or probably even discomfort, in his entire life, even the mildest sentence will be excruciating to him. Imagine him on house arrest, trying to wrap his head around the notion that no, in fact, he’s _not_ allowed to shuttle between states every season. Unfortunately house arrest would be very, very cruel to his slaves, servants err… staff. Can you even imagine? A VERY angry 250lb 5 year old. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5534 "2023-06-11T21:58:15Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I know we’re all having a good time picturing Trump in an orange jumpsuit and behind bars… But seriously: if he is convicted, what kind of sentence is likely to be handed down? Considering that it is indeed a serious felony, but it’s also non-violent crime and the defendant is 76 years old. I googled news stories and didn’t find a good answer. But it would go by the sentencing guidelines here: > **[GLMFull.pdf](https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/guidelines-manual/2021/GLMFull.pdf)** > > 4.62 MB It is hard to interpret for a non-lawyer, and maybe even for a lawyer. There also is the word “likely” in your question. I’d think it unlikley he’d be convicted on all counts, and that it would be hard to guess which counts the jury would give him a pass on. Having said that, the Espionage Act guidelines are on page 279-283. But none of the given categories exactly fit, as far as I can see. The lowest penalties are for losing documents: [quote]d: Offenses prosecuted under this statute generally do not involve subversive conduct on behalf of a foreign power, but rather the loss of classified information by the gross negligence of an employee of the federal government or a federal contractor.[/quote] If top secret document(s) are lost, it is a level 18 offence. Scrolling down to page 407, that is a Zone D offense. If I interpret it correctly, you have to serve very roughly two years, and a Zone seems to preclude starting out with house arrest. Then, he is charged with many counts and more than the Espionage Act. And, it may be that the most serious indictment is yet to be handed down. Calling someone on the phone and telling them to reverse the results of an election seems morally worse to me than anything he’s been charged with criminally to date, but YMMV. Don’t take this for gospel. But it should point in the right direction. P.S. There seems to be nothing in the guidelines about the offender’s age per se except if they already served 30 years. But – the sentence can be reduced if there has been “serious deterioration in physical or mental health because of the aging process”. And I don’t think there is some distinction between violent and non-violent espionage. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2023, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5535 "2023-06-11T22:07:36Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > But seriously: if he is convicted, what kind of sentence is likely to be handed down? As I mentioned previously, Reality Winner got 63 months imprisonment (of which she served approximately 48) – and is still on supervised release – for a single Espionage Act violation that overall was far less serious than the large array of charges against Trump. So the answer to your question depends on the answer to a more fundamental question, “is there true justice in America, such that no one is above the law and everyone is judged equally?” ---
**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:** [June 11, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5536 "2023-06-11T22:18:14Z")
The closest example I’ve found is this one from Wikipedia’s Espionage Act article: > Kenneth Wayne Ford Jr. was indicted under [18 U.S.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_18_of_the_United_States_Code) [§ 793(e)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/793#e) for allegedly having a box of documents in his house after he left NSA employment around 2004. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2006.[[90]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage_Act_of_1917#cite_note-jireport1-90) The first 31 counts of the TRUMP indictment are also under 793(e). All of the other examples given in the Wikipedia article are charges of leaking information (including the Reality Winner case). So far, there’s no allegation of Trump leaking the information, so the Ford case may be closest. I’ve seen other cases in the media where the accused had kept documents without authority, but didn’t leak them. Haven’t been able to find them, yet. (Saw them last year when this story first broke.) ---
**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:** [June 11, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5537 "2023-06-11T22:21:55Z")
Perhaps the special counsel is keeping that one in his back pocket for charging in new jersey. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5538 "2023-06-11T23:04:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > The closest example I’ve found is this one from Wikipedia’s Espionage Act article: > > > Kenneth Wayne Ford Jr. was indicted under [18 U.S.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_18_of_the_United_States_Code) [§ 793(e)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/793#e) for allegedly having a box of documents in his house after he left NSA employment around 2004. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2006.[[90]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage_Act_of_1917#cite_note-jireport1-90) > > The first 31 counts of the TRUMP indictment are also under 793(e). Ford also was convicted of lying about not having a criminal record to get his security clearance. But, then, Trump is also accused of lying, in his case to the FBI. And Trump allegedly conspired with his valet to do some of his misdeeds, which, to an extent I can’t figure out, increases the punishment. I do think it would be impossible to interpret the sentencing guidelines in a way where an Espionage Act violator, at the Top Secret level (and most of the charges mention Top Secret), gets no slammer time. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5539 "2023-06-11T23:07:56Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > And, it may be that the most serious indictment is yet to be handed down. Calling someone on the phone and telling them to reverse the results of an election seems morally worse to me than anything he’s been charged with criminally to date, but YMMV. Calling the Secretary of State of the state of Georgia while President of the US and telling them to reverse the election and making barely veiled threats if they don’t, should be very, very serious shit. And it’s not just ‘morally worse’ it’s against the law. And there is the whole insurrection stuff. That to me is the most serious shit. Both are trying to overturn a free and fair vote. A vote that has been proven to be correct by some 60 judges. And then we have the entire false electors sent to DC. That’s sort of a problem. And another attempt to overturn democracy. And perhaps the stupidest scheme of all. I’m sure there is more, that’s just off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/5540 "2023-06-11T23:49:31Z")
I think house arrest with limited visitation and limited access to personal media would go a LONG way. Just shut the fucker up and make him go away! [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=276) [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=278)