# 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:** 367
**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:** [August 23, 2023, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7321 "2023-08-23T02:32:19Z")
Wha? How’d I end up in here? ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7322 "2023-08-23T03:30:32Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > A thing that reminds you of what Homer Simpson would do. I was envisioning more of a reboot of the SNL skit where Reagan is a Mastermind but with Trump frantically typing as he watches the FEDs pull into Mar A Lago as the “IT” team stare in amazement. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7323 "2023-08-23T04:34:06Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Cannon has made serious blunders recently in a trial that had nothing to do with Trump. If she’s making serious errors, shouldn’t the prosecution be appealing those decisions immediately so as to avoid having the verdict overturned on appeal? ---
**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 23, 2023, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7324 "2023-08-23T05:38:45Z")
Appealing to whom? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7325 "2023-08-23T06:01:40Z")
The next highest level court. ---
**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 23, 2023, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7326 "2023-08-23T06:32:08Z")
I believe appeals come after the verdict, not before the trial even begins. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7327 "2023-08-23T08:00:40Z")
Not for everything. In fact, the prosecution has already appealed the special master decision in this case. And won that appeal. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7328 "2023-08-23T08:48:05Z")
I read this on the BBC website this morning: > **Former US President Donald Trump has been implicated by one of his employees in a classified documents case, according to a court filing.** > > Yuscil Taveras, an IT director identified as Trump Employee 4 in legal documents, changed his testimony after switching lawyers, say prosecutors. > > He now accuses Mr Trump and two aides of “efforts to delete security camera footage”, says the filing. It goes on to say (_I copied this because I know that Americans cannot see the original_): > The chief judge overseeing the federal grand jury, James Boasberg, offered a public defender to Mr Taveras after prosecutors pointed out a conflict of interest for his lawyer Stanley Woodward, who was being partly funded by Mr Trump’s Save America political action committee. > > “Advising Trump Employee 4 to correct his sworn testimony would result in testimony incriminating Mr Woodward’s other client, Nauta; but permitting Trump Employee 4’s false testimony to stand uncorrected would leave Trump Employee 4 exposed to criminal charges for perjury,” the filing said. > > On 5 July, Mr Taveras informed Judge Boasberg that he no longer wished to be represented by Mr Woodward and would instead accept the offer of legal aid. > > “Immediately after receiving new counsel, Trump Employee 4 retracted his prior false testimony and provided information that implicated Nauta, [Carlos] De Oliveira, and Trump in efforts to delete security camera footage, as set forth in the superseding indictment,” the court filing says. > **[Mar-a-Lago IT manager implicates Trump in classified files case](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66589807)** > > The Mar-a-Lago employee points the finger at Mr Trump "in efforts to delete security camera footage". ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7329 "2023-08-23T11:42:22Z")
So just to keep everyone up to date on the excuses. Whereas before it was “I Declassified!” and upthread we discussed how that doesn’t really matter, now it’s “Anyone has a right to delete the security footage of their own home!” What’s sad about these herrings is that there are some who will think they’re reasonable defenses. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7330 "2023-08-23T11:49:26Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I’m an IT guy for a few field offices right now, and I’m fairly limited in what I can do with anything server-related. Yup. 30 years same organization IT/IS/GIS I’ve got the keys to the kingdom as it it were, but we have good back up strategy that one person or a catastrophe could never burn the kingdom down. That’s how it’s supposed to work. “Delete the servers” makes me chuckle though. That’s like saying “Delete the car” Ummm what? It’s Trump speak for “I am clueless, make it go away”. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7331 "2023-08-23T15:23:36Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > “Delete the servers” makes me chuckle though. That’s like saying “Delete the car” But would that destroy the packets? ---
**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:** [August 23, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7332 "2023-08-23T15:53:02Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > now it’s “Anyone has a right to delete the security footage of their own home!” > > What’s sad about these herrings is that there are some who will think they’re reasonable defenses. It’s their inability to appreciate nuance that’s the problem. They latch on to one thing, and insist that that one thing is applicable to every situation, even if it’s not. In this example, yes, generally speaking, you do have the right to delete footage. That is, if you’re doing it _before_ you receive a subpoena for that security footage. After that, if you delete it, you’re committing a crime. It’s that “Sometimes circumstances change” thing that they can’t grasp. ---
**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 23, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7333 "2023-08-23T15:59:19Z")
That’s not even this case, that was a completely different case, a civil trial. The DOJ can’t appeal all of the judge’s decisions, that would be nonsense. The judge has a lot of leeway. I don’t think they can really do anything at this point except ask for another judge, but they would take something really egregious. It’s extremely rare. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7334 "2023-08-23T16:12:23Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > It’s their inability to appreciate nuance that’s the problem. They latch on to one thing, and insist that that one thing is applicable to every situation, even if it’s not. Do they really need that much benefit of the doubt? If this had been Hillary Clinton and there was a routine deletion after 5 years (or however long), they’d be besides themselves with conspiracy theories about what was removed and how hard the book needs to be thrown at her. Context doesn’t matter. The law doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters to them is which “side” is involved. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7335 "2023-08-23T16:12:26Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > That’s not even this case, that was a completely different case, a civil trial. It’s understandable that with all these cases against Trump, you’d get them mixed up. But the special master appointed to review the documents seized at Mar-a-Lago was indeed this case. (gift link) > **[Trump Mar-a-Lago special master struck down by appeals court](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/12/01/trump-cannon-special-master-rejected/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjkyNzYzMjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjk0MTQ1NTk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTI3NjMyMDAsImp0aSI6ImQzN2IyNzIzLWQ4NjgtNDc1NS1iMzU4LTEzYWE5ODJiYWQxZCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9uYXRpb25hbC1zZWN1cml0eS8yMDIyLzEyLzAxL3RydW1wLWNhbm5vbi1zcGVjaWFsLW1hc3Rlci1yZWplY3RlZC8ifQ.GRYMCfzA4DLjjDjh7TOCMeslsNhLnGhJuaPIWcV6hT8&itid=gfta)** > > A three-judge panel, including two Trump appointees, said they would not "carve out an unprecedented exception in our law for former presidents.” > [@Atamasama](#): > > The DOJ can’t appeal all of the judge’s decisions, that would be nonsense. True, but there are some things they can likely appeal right now. I’m thinking of the decision to deny a Garcia hearing. Not having one would grounds for an appeal by the defendent after the trial is over and would likely result in a mistrial. So to preclude that happening, I expect the prosecution could appeal right now. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7336 "2023-08-23T16:17:52Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > But would that destroy the packets? Oh delivery services have that _down_. Eh what? 😉 ---
**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 23, 2023, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7337 "2023-08-23T16:19:54Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > But the special master appointed to review the documents seized at Mar-a-Lago was indeed this case. Wow. Check your date. That was last year. That was a civil case where Trump sued the federal government for taking “his” stuff. Trump wasn’t even indicted until June of this year, and then Cannon was assigned the case. Two separate legal cases revolving around the same issue, with the same judge. > [@dtilque](#): > > It’s understandable that with all these cases against Trump, you’d get them mixed up. Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7338 "2023-08-23T16:29:11Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Two separate legal cases revolving around the same issue, with the same judge. OK, you’re right I am conflating the two cases. Yet I believe the appeal in that earlier case was made before the final conclusion of that case. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7339 "2023-08-23T20:54:31Z")
This could get interesting! The latest co-defendant in the documents case has invoked his right to a speedy trial and requests that trial to be held within the 70 day time limit. He did not, however, request to sever his case from trump. [https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/08/22/mar-a-lago-property-manager-invokes-speedy-trial-rights-in-trump-classified-documents-case/](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/08/22/mar-a-lago-property-manager-invokes-speedy-trial-rights-in-trump-classified-documents-case/) > “Mr. DeOliveira has not filed any motions in this case,” Murrell’s filing says. “He does not concede that the interests of justice require a delay in his trial, and he asserts his right to a speedy trial within 70 days of his first appearance on July 31, 2023. > > “By undersigned counsel’s calculations,” Murrell added, “that would be October 9, 2023.” ---
**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 23, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7340 "2023-08-23T21:49:40Z")
Does that make him something of a sacrificial pawn, giving Every Other Possible Defendant a (probably attenuated) look at the Prosecution’s case? I’m wondering what advantage there would be to DeOliveira in going first _and_ going fast. [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=366) [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=368)