# 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:** 397
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7946 "2024-04-04T22:14:19Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > As mentioned above, Judge Cannon denied Trump’s PRA Motion to Dismiss. [Order here](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24531788-pra-mtd-denial?responsive=1&title=1). It basically says DOJ correctly laid out the elements and supporting facts of the Espionage Act, and that the Presidential Records Act is not part of those elements. So motion dismissed. This seems significant. The idiots on right wing radio this week have been going on and on about the PRA, Clinton’s sock drawer, and who knows what else. They thought the PRA was going to save Trump. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7947 "2024-04-04T23:26:30Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > They **thought** the PRA was going to save Trump. Objection! Facts not in evidence, Your Honor. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7948 "2024-04-05T05:01:46Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > That’s sad. That seems like a ref after a game saying ‘sorry guys, I wasn’t watching that whole last half. How many points do you each get?’. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7949 "2024-04-05T13:04:49Z")
Jack Smith goes after the _arguments._ Donald Trump goes after the _people._ But to the (nuance-challenged) Trump cult members, these two things are identical: > **[Trump calls for Jack Smith's punishment for criticizing judge in classified...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-calls-jack-smiths-punishment-180137963.html)** > > Former President Donald Trump said special counsel Jack Smith should be punished for issuing a scathing critique of a recent request for jury instructions by the judge overseeing the case on Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7950 "2024-04-05T13:15:18Z")
This from the man that threatens judges families and clerks. Maybe someone should call for his punishment. Oh wait, . . nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7951 "2024-04-05T13:17:16Z")
Trump better hope this never goes to trial! So far so good for him on that front, but still. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7952 "2024-04-05T15:47:12Z")
I think the fix is in. Cannon will allow the trial to start before the election, and then rule that the PRA allows him to steal all the documents that he wants and dismiss the charges. They’ll make it an October surprise for the most electoral impact, and if it works Cannon gets on the Supreme Court. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7953 "2024-04-05T16:25:00Z")
My take is that she’s a Fox viewer who also knows the law. And while most Fox viewers can wriggle out of any situation where they have to actually resolve the disconnect between the two, she’s in a position where she actually has to push through the cognitive dissonance. That’s difficult and messy, and (I assume) made all the worse by continuing to watch Fox news each night. Hopefully, at some point, she realizes that she’s watching TV that’s arguing for criminality every night, and it’s harming her health and her nation, and she should turn it off. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7954 "2024-04-05T16:28:52Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > They’ll make it an October surprise for the most electoral impact, and if it works Cannon gets on the Supreme Court. Whose spot would she take? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7955 "2024-04-05T16:34:57Z")
If I had to bet it would be Sotomayer since her health is becoming questionable. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7956 "2024-04-05T16:38:44Z")
Moderating: > [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Whose spot would she take? > [@BobLibDem](#): > > If I had to bet it would be Sotomayer since her health is becoming questionable. Let’s take this discussion elsewhere. It’s a hijack to this thread, and we’ve already had too many of those. Thanks. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7957 "2024-04-05T16:44:26Z")
I started a new discussion because I felt it was a good topic: > [@With Sotomayor's health problems should she retire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-sotomayors-health-problems-should-she-retire/999886): > > The topic came up in this thread: And this is a big deal right now. Here is an article about it, there are numerous articles though: I get that asking her to retire now is being very pessimistic and is assuming Trump will win. Nobody wants that and efforts should be directed toward preventing that situation. But is it an unreasonable precaution? ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7958 "2024-04-05T16:46:59Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Trump better hope this never goes to trial! So far so good for him on that front, but still. So now I’m wondering. One strategy could be to drag this out for as long as possible, and then settle. Trump proclaims his innocence, but states that since he has an election to win it was more practical to settle. (I have a vague notion that he did this before. Maybe the Trump University thing? Or the charitable foundation thing?) Questions to Dopers who are better at this legal stuff: Is a settlement even possible at this point? What terms could there be for a settlement that Team Trump would find more beneficial than going to trial? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7959 "2024-04-05T16:48:42Z")
“Settle” what? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7960 "2024-04-05T16:49:29Z")
Yeah, this is a criminal case, not civil. He could try for a plea bargain, but there’s no reason for the government to accept one. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7961 "2024-04-05T16:51:09Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I started a new discussion because I felt it was a good topic: Thank you. > [@anny\_m](#): > > Questions to Dopers who are better at this legal stuff: Is a settlement even possible at this point? This is a criminal case, not a civil case, so there will be no “settlement.” There might be a plea agreement, but it’s Trump – so I doubt it. He’s put all his chips on his idiot judge, and he may not be wrong. However, Jack Smith still has a few good moves available to him. Let’s wait and see if he files a motion in limine to force her to rule, once and for all, whether the Presidential Records Act applies (Hint: It doesn’t!) or if he goes directly to a writ of mandamus to the Eleventh asking them to remove her from hearing the case. My gut feeling is he’ll go with the motion in limine to start. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7962 "2024-04-05T16:54:57Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I think the fix is in. Cannon will allow the trial to start before the election, and then rule that the PRA allows him to steal all the documents that he wants and dismiss the charges. They’ll make it an October surprise for the most electoral impact, and if it works Cannon gets on the Supreme Court. Yikes - that is scary. I hadn’t thought of that possibility. Thanks a LOT! 😲 ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7963 "2024-04-05T17:50:20Z")
My bad. I get confused sometimes between Trump’s criminal and civil cases and used “settlement” when I meant “plea bargain.” So – is there a plea bargain to be had here that would be acceptable to Trump? For example, can he plead guilty to a misdemeanor and pay some kind of fine? Because you know he’ll justify to his cult by saying that he is of course totally innocent but paying $x is worth it so he can win the election and MAGA. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7964 "2024-04-05T17:58:20Z")
Even if you could get a plea bargain past Trump’s ego, what would be in it for the government? Usually, when the government settles for a plea bargain, it’s because the case isn’t worth wasting time on, possibly because it’s just some small fry and they want to focus on the big guy. But Trump is the big guy, and he’s worth all the resources we can bring to bear on him. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/7965 "2024-04-05T17:58:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > He could try for a plea bargain, but there’s no reason for the government to accept one. I can think of one good reason: Judge Cannon. [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=396) [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=398)