# 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:** 385
**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:** [February 27, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7704 "2024-02-27T15:11:46Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > But by then, we’ll have the civil verdict in the Carroll case, the civil verdict in the NY fraud case, and hopefully a decision in the Stormy Daniel case. 0 for 3, with at least 3 other major state and federal actions pending. Yeah, but those are all relatively weak sauce, insofar as they can be written off by the semi-indoctrinated as an overreaching of the law to “get” trump. _He got in trouble for just talking about someone who was telling lies about him? She couldn’t even remember when she was allegedly raped? Yeah, right. He got in trouble for talking up his business prospects to look good to lenders? Everybody does that! He got in trouble for someone else paying off a sleazy woman who was blackmailing him? He was just trying to protect his wife and family from hearing her scamming lies._ The federal cases are the ones that might, maybe, possibly change a few hearts and minds. The truly devoted will let nothing dissuade them from following their messiah, but there is a decent-sized group that says a federal conviction is beyond the pale and would change their vote. A public trial might be the first time some of the Fox “News” crowd hears the real actual facts of the cases instead of the spin and lies that make up their bubble of delusion. I hope the DC trial, at least, gets heard before the election. I gave up hope on the Florida trial a long time ago, which made me sad because it’s the most open and shut case with the clearest evidence. Any competent and unbiased judge would have probably held the trial months ago. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7705 "2024-02-28T04:38:09Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > Docs were his personal records OK, so I dove into this claim that I’ve been hearing for a few months now, that the Presidential Records Act gives Trump the right to take whatever he wants. I see this frequently when I wade into the comments section under articles at Newsmax. It’s a pretty prevalent belief on those who are steeped in Trump propaganda. So what is this claim? At the end of Clinton’s term, he didn’t turn over to NARA audio tapes of his interviews with his biographer, and kept them stashed privately. Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch (a right-wing activist group) sued the National Archives to force them to go get the tapes from Clinton, and Judge Amy Berman Jackson slapped him down pretty hard, the case was dismissed because Judicial Watch didn’t have standing to force the National Archives to go get them. But in the decision, Judge Jackson made this note: > [@](#): > > Under the statutory scheme established by the Presidential Records Act, the decision to segregate personal materials from Presidential records is made by the President during the President’s term, and in the President’s sole discretion. All the analyses I can find of this case say that she had already dismissed it due to lack of standing, but was further speculating about how enforcement wouldn’t be up to the courts anyway. This is the one thing I really don’t understand - it does sound like she’s saying that a President has the unreviewable right to separate Presidential records from personal records. If anyone can help here, I’d appreciate it. So Trump’s claim takes this almost throw-away line from an old court case, and says it gives him the power to take whatever he wants and nobody can say or do anything about it. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2024, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7706 "2024-02-28T10:49:48Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > This is the one thing I really don’t understand - it does sound like she’s saying that a President has the unreviewable right to separate Presidential records from personal records. Presidential records are records the President created (or things people sent to the President, letters, etc). Think of the stories of Trump making notes and tearing them up and aides scurrying to tape them back to together - those are a kind of Presidential record and property of the public. The docs in this case are not those types of records. Trump did not create the docs in this case. Also, The docs Trump took had classified markings. That inherently means they are the property of the Govt. I could go on, but they just aren’t “Presidential” records, and certainly not “personal\* in nature type of records he created that would be an exception to allow Trump to keep them. Or to put another way, Trump never made any effort to inform the archivist that this doc was a Presidential record but this was personal, etc. if he had, the archivist would have seen they were not Presidential records at all, but rather Top Secret CIA docs, etc. and referred the matter to the appropriate dept who handles those non-Presidential records. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2024, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7707 "2024-02-28T11:00:13Z")
But he did it in his head! That makes it legal and binding! /s ---
**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:** [February 28, 2024, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7708 "2024-02-28T12:33:35Z")
Trump’s actions also tied the Archivist’s hands: > In the event of potentially unlawful removal or destruction of government records, Title 44, Section 3106, of the U.S. Code requires the head of a federal agency to notify the Archivist, who initiates action with the Attorney General for the possible recovery of such records. The Archivist is not authorized to independently investigate removal or recover records. [**SOURCE (15pp PDF)**](https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46129) He left the Archivist – legally – with no choice. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7709 "2024-02-28T16:05:02Z")
“I didn’t think the Archivist would eat _my_ face!” ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7710 "2024-02-28T17:54:34Z")
Rules are for the little people. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7711 "2024-02-28T18:36:29Z")
Judge Cannon does the right thing > **[Mar-a-Lago judge denies Trump co-defendants access to classified discovery—a...](https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/the-special-counsel-has-met-his-burden-mar-a-lago-judge-sides-with-jack-smith-refuses-to-allow-trump-co-defendants-personal-access-to-classified-discovery-and-teases-another-order/)** > > The federal judge in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents prosecution of Donald Trump just ruled in favor of Jack Smith. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7712 "2024-02-28T19:48:49Z")
Also Denied Trumps motion re access to classified information. But throws a lot of shade at Jack/Govt in her ruling. All that matters is getting it right I suppose. ---
**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:** [February 29, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7713 "2024-02-29T23:28:11Z")
Pencil in July for this trial. Team smith asks for July 8th. Team trump next year, but will accept august 12. > **[Federal prosecutors seek July trial for Trump in classified files case](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/02/29/trump-classified-documents-maralago-justice-department/9e4e28f2-d758-11ee-82ad-c2391b06a8f5_story.html)** > > Federal prosecutors are requesting a July 8 trial for Donald Trump on charges that he illegally retained and concealed classified documents ---
**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:** [February 29, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7714 "2024-02-29T23:34:52Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Judge Cannon does the right thing I suspect that she had enough sense to understand that if she had ruled otherwise, Jack Smith would have moved to have her recused from the case, and likely succeeded. That wouldn’t bode well for the future of her career. ---
**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:** [February 29, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7715 "2024-02-29T23:42:25Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > That wouldn’t bode well for the future of her career. Does **any** of this?! She got raked over the coals already by other judges in the civil documents case that Trump brought. This case seems to just be digging the hole deeper. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2024, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7716 "2024-03-01T03:47:59Z")
Mid-August trial date would be right around when the J6 case would be ready for trial. Can’t have two going at the same time. J6 trial would have to postpone in deference to this docs trial date. If that happens then you’re at the mercy of Cannon not making a crazy ruling that Jack just has to appeal. You think that’s why they choose that date? I do. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7717 "2024-03-01T06:14:22Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Does **any** of this?! In the short term, and for most medium and long term scenarios, you’re right. But in the narrow sequence of events where Trump wins the election and then has a compliant Congress (either because he gets really lucky in 2024 or because his minions successfully monkeywrench democracy and manufacture favorable support in 2026), if Cannon is able to drag out proceedings such that Trump doesn’t see a jury before the election, then she’s at the top of his list for a Supreme Court seat. (Not because Trump “rewards” service and. He never _rewards_ anyone, because it’s always “okay but what can you do for me _next_” in his mind. It’ll because she’ll have proven herself obedient and reliable and he’ll trust that she’ll continue to be, the same way Weisselberg was willing to accept incarceration to keep his boss out of jail and then, even after having looked at the inside of a cell for four months, was _still_ willing to commit perjury to protect Trump. If Cannon can prove herself to be this kind of a toady, Trump will want to install her where she can be most useful.) Naturally, if Trump loses the election (and no new cult-of-personality leader appears to galvanize the MAGA horde), or if Trump wins and the rest of the country gets its shit together and elects a strong-opposition Congress in 2026, or some other scenario happens where Trump is obstructed from running roughshod over democratic norms, then Cannon’s judicial malfeasance condemns her to sit at that same bench for the rest of her judicial career with no hope of advancement. That’s the gamble she’s making. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7718 "2024-03-01T09:09:04Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > sit at that same bench for the rest of her judicial career with no hope of advancement. Why are so many people convinced that Cannon is worried about her career and needs to advance it? She is currently sitting on the biggest case of the century, which makes her a player in a chapter that will be written in all the history books. If she gets some kind of promotion within the federal court system , she will still never have a case as important as this one. Even if she gets appointed to the supreme court, she will probably never make a decision more important than this case.(and any decision she writes will be adjusted and possibly corrected by several other justices. In this case, she is the sole judge and has almost complete control. If she puts Trump back into the White House unencumbered by the criminal charges , that will make her one of the most important people in American history (unfortunately.) My guess is that it she is already feeling a lot of career satisfaction ,and a big ego boost. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7719 "2024-03-01T12:20:05Z")
Trump’s enablers don’t care about the history books. All but the very stupidest of them know damned well that they’re on the wrong side of history and that their only place in it is as villains. It’s about power and exercising it over people, and it’s about money. There’s lots more of both available to a corrupt Supreme Court justice. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7720 "2024-03-01T12:27:39Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > There’s lots more of both available to a corrupt supreme Court Justice. Just ask Clarence Thomas. (Has he accepted John Oliver’s ~~bribe~~ [offer](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/19/john-oliver-clarence-thomas-resign-1-million-offer) yet?) ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7721 "2024-03-01T13:05:48Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Cannon’s judicial malfeasance condemns her to sit at that same bench for the rest of her judicial career with no hope of advancement. She’s already at the top of the mountain with a lifetime appointment. There’s nowhere else for her to move up. She was never a serious candidate for the Supreme Court. Until now, actually, if Trump wins and has a Republican Congress. So in a very real sense, her malfeasance in this case has changed her “dead end” job into a potential scotus seat. She has _improved_ her career prospects, not that they needed improving. Because again, Federal judge, lifetime appointment. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7722 "2024-03-01T13:13:48Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > “okay but what can you do for me _next_” Habba has already been on Fox saying that Brett Kavanaugh will ‘step up’ and effectively sends a message to him that he owes Trump for his job. As we know, however, they are, currently, untouchable WRT Trump (the citizen or the president). Hopefully they’re smart enough to understand that if he becomes president, there’s a very real chance he’s going to attempt to change that. And, hopefully, they’re smart enough to understand that he doesn’t return favors. I can’t imagine what he might offer them behind closed doors, but I doubt they’ll actually get it. Remember, he’s spent the last 3+ years complaining that Biden has “weaponized” the DOJ/SCOTUS. Hopefully, as a country, we’re smart enough to understand that almost certainly means he’s admitting to doing exactly that. For all the talk about “Biden’s DOJ”, which isn’t a thing, imagine what “Trump’s DOJ” will look like if he can figure out a way to make that happen. We also know that Trump is very likely under the impression that he, as president, can order Seal Team Six to kill a political rival. While I don’t think he’d go that far, I could certainly see him attempting to put legal pressure or threats of jail on political rivals, including journalists that don’t give him 5 star reviews. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7723 "2024-03-01T13:19:26Z")
Advancement may have been a misleading word as it implies a limitless promotional track on the bench itself. I was thinking about the opportunities available for judges to capitalize on their experience in various other ways, such as to retire and become faculty members at prestigious law schools (**[just one example](https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/nancy-gertner/)**). But nobody like that will touch Cannon now. She’s behind that bench forever, unless Trump wins and taps her for the big chair. [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=384) [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=386)