# 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:** 49
**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:** [August 14, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/961 "2022-08-14T13:56:58Z")
So he thinks it’s ok to have them as long as he declassified them? This guy needs a better lawyer, or listen to one. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/962 "2022-08-14T14:03:08Z")
I’m trying to understand when the decision was made to determine which top secret documents were to placed in the boxes, and when to transport the boxes to MAL. At least until January 6th, Trump probably still believed he would retain the presidency, and was likely spending all of his time concocting all the possible methods to do so. So I can’t imagine that he would have simultaneously been carefully planning for post-presidency, which the material in the boxes suggests. Considering the state of denial that he and his closest yes-men were in, they may have even thought he would stay as president all the way through January 20th. So were the decisions regarding the boxes all made last-minute? Was he, in essence, “on tilt”? I asked a question before that perhaps was missed (or perhaps too obvious), but what is the likelihood that the Supreme Court would ultimately determine whether or not Trump goes to prison? And how soon could this conceivably happen? If it is delayed or stalled until the next presidential race, then could running again and winning save him? Because that would be doubly-cruel to America. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/963 "2022-08-14T14:10:18Z")
Apparently Trump didn’t pack anything until after Jan 6. > Two sources with knowledge of the situation told the outlet Trump’s aides were hurriedly stuffing documents and other materials into banker boxes that were then shipped to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Palm Beach club and residence. > > One source said Trump only seriously began making plans to leave the White House after January 6, his final two weeks in office, after months of baselessly claiming he had won the election. > **[Trump frantically packed up documents to take with him in the last days of...](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-frantically-packed-up-docs-mar-a-lago-final-days-2022-8?fbclid=IwAR0UYD7j7n_v_hUhVDZJNdvXKIyt7zEPktzeM8fsB0PNyC_3_w7fRNYYH8g&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=topbar)** > > "It was a chaotic exit," a source told NBC News of Trump's White House departure, adding aides filled up boxes to be sent to Mar-a-Lago. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/964 "2022-08-14T14:13:42Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > At least until January 6th, Trump probably still believed he would retain the presidency, and was likely spending all of his time concocting all the possible methods to do so I would quibble with this conclusion. There have been credible reports that Trump was advised clear back in September/October 2020 that projections showed he would lose the presidency, and he seemed to acknowledge this fact at the time. The speculation I’ve heard re how Trump amassed the documents was that over time, he took classified information to the private residence in the White House and never returned it. When he finally vacated the White House, all this material was stuffed into the boxes and taken with him to Mar-A-Lago. > [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I asked a question before that perhaps was missed (or perhaps too obvious), but what is the likelihood that the Supreme Court would ultimately determine whether or not Trump goes to prison? I am sure Trump will appeal his cases (all of them) as far up the chain of the legal system as he can. The good news is, once a conviction and sentencing is rendered, all appeals are conducted while he is serving his (presumed lawfully) imposed sentence. Meaning he would be in prison, or whatever will pass for a prison if he ever suffers a conviction. Personally, I believe he will flee the country before this happens. If he does, I hope he is tried and convicted in absentia. His alleged conduct, if proved, is a huge hit to our national security and should be recognized as such. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/965 "2022-08-14T14:18:30Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Personally, I believe he will flee the country before this happens. If he does, I hope he is tried and convicted in absentia. His alleged conduct, if proved, is a huge hit to our national security and should be recognized as such With that in mind, is there a mechanism by which he could be imprisoned ASAP, as a flight and security risk (particularly to Russia for example) pending further legal action? ---
**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:** [August 14, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/966 "2022-08-14T14:23:14Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > So he thinks it’s ok to have them as long as he declassified them? No, he thinks everyone else is stupid enough to believe it. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/967 "2022-08-14T14:23:32Z")
Yes. As soon as a grand jury issues indictments, he can be arrested. If it’s determined at arraignment that he poses a significant risk of flight, he can be held without bail pending further proceedings. It would be tricky, though. he probably has enough contacts remaining in DOJ/FBI to get a heads-up if/when that is imminent. Plus there would be an immense outcry from his supporters. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/968 "2022-08-14T14:24:41Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > You should be, John, that’s the kind of thing I’d expect from you. You’ll be relieved to know I came up with ‘Magakaze’ for these dorks dying in their lone wolf attempts to attack the police arm of the United States government because of this search and seizure. [https://twitter.com/jsrailton/status/1558810891755429890?t=4Nq7e8idVpO3jqAZvRuxRA&s=19](https://twitter.com/jsrailton/status/1558810891755429890?t=4Nq7e8idVpO3jqAZvRuxRA&s=19) USCP link, but it’s effectively contained in the tweet: > **[Law Enforcement Investigating Car Crash, Gunshots, and Suicide on East...](https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/law-enforcement-investigating-car-crash-gunshots-and-suicide-east)** > > \---------- UPDATE: 2:45 p.m. ---------- Next of kin has been notified in relation to this morning’s incident. The man has been identified as 29-year old Richard A. York the 3rd of Delaware. It is still not clear why he chose to drive to the Capitol... ---
**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:** [August 14, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/969 "2022-08-14T14:31:05Z")
MSNBC on Sirius XM just mentioned that it was unclear what motivated him. Uh-huh. It’s unclear. ---
**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 14, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/970 "2022-08-14T14:32:52Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Uh-huh. It’s unclear. “Stupidity or fanaticism? We may never know.” ---
**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:** [August 14, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/971 "2022-08-14T14:37:52Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > MSNBC on Sirius XM just mentioned that it was unclear what motivated him. > Uh-huh. It’s unclear. Maybe they misspelled nuclear. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/972 "2022-08-14T14:39:07Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > Hard for me to believe it was Jared, but maybe. He seemed so into the grifting. When presented with the choice between staying true to his father-in-law or being charged in a conspiracy to commit espionage, the grift says to squeal. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/973 "2022-08-14T14:50:30Z")
This is what I’ve been thinking: > **[‘It worried people all the time': How Trump’s handling of secret documents...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/worried-people-time-trump-handling-190131627.html)** > > Former President Donald Trump's cavalier approach to sensitive documents led to the FBI investigation and search of his Mar-a-Lago estate, sources say. > “Whether he was obstructing or whether it was Trump being Trump is the big unknown,” Moss said. > > According to advisers, confidants and former aides, Trump is a “pack rat” who tends to leave the actual packing to underlings. At the end of the day, they clear his desk of paperwork — notes, scribbles, newspaper clippings, printed-out-emails, the new tree alignment for a golf course, a new grill for Mar-a-Lago — and the contents are placed in a box on the floor. > > … > > Another former White House aide said that Trump was never much concerned about record management. > > “He’d have no awareness,” this person said. “When he was done with a piece of paper, he’d rip it up and throw it on the ground. That was his way of saying he’s done … [but] the narrative [that] he was ripping up documents like he was his own personal shredding machine is not accurate — he’d rip it in half, not usually into a thousand pieces.” Sure, it’s plausible that Trump wanted the documents for leverage or money. It’s how he operates. But given that he’s impulsive and never thinks things through, his defence council could argue that Trump didn’t know he’d taken the documents and that the crimes were accidental. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/974 "2022-08-14T14:55:21Z")
Per Forbes, Trump’s 757 is ready to fly again. [Trump’s 757 ready to fly.](https://www.forbes.com/sites/douggollan/2022/07/08/eric-trump-teases-the-return-of-trump-force-one-757-private-jet/?sh=61b430c3b4b8) From what I know, depending on any updates for fuel capacity to the plane, it would not have the legs/distance to get over the Atlantic. Much less to Russia or Saudi Arabia. But a stop in Iceland for fuel could do it (please feel free to correct me). I doubt he would try to flee. But… he’s a moron, so maybe he will take it up for a test ride with the fuel tanks full. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/975 "2022-08-14T15:00:18Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I would quibble with this conclusion. There have been credible reports that Trump was advised clear back in September/October 2020 that projections showed he would lose the presidency, and he seemed to acknowledge this fact at the time. It is entirely consistent that Trump was aware that he lost the election according to voting, but still believed he would be able to remain in power. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/976 "2022-08-14T15:07:20Z")
I agree, it’s consistent with who he is. But there was a moment when he did understand that he would probably lose the election and therefore needed to take steps to remain in power by… other means. It doesn’t really matter what his state of mind was as it pertains to any pending charges in this case. The charges will withstand defenses that consist of, “I didn’t know any better,” “I declassified them by waving my little fingers over them,” or even, “I didn’t know the documents had been removed.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/977 "2022-08-14T15:13:15Z")
According to a map on [this page](https://simpleflying.com/history-of-the-boeing-757/), the 757 has the legs to fly from JFK to Stockholm. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/978 "2022-08-14T15:20:48Z")
And Cuba is closer. \* (Yes, there is an extradition treaty with the US and Cuba, but Cuba almost always says neener-neener to American requests.) . . . “\*” If Trump finger little leaves, I would hope he ends up like Goldfinger, ejected from the plane while trying to get to Cuba. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/979 "2022-08-14T15:27:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > According to a map on [this page](https://simpleflying.com/history-of-the-boeing-757/), the 757 has the legs to fly from JFK to Stockholm. Thanks Johnny. I think, from what I looked up a few months ago, Trumps particular model didn’t have the range. I could certainly be wrong. And perhaps this refurberation retrofitted it to do so. From here - [Swedish extradition laws](https://www.government.se/government-of-sweden/ministry-of-justice/international-judicial-co-operation/extradition-for-criminal-offences/) But since that would just be a stop for fuel, I very much doubt his plane could be grounded. That shit would take months through the courts. It’s very, very sad. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/980 "2022-08-14T15:32:10Z")
I actually hope Trump does a runner. Russia or Saudi Arabia fit the bill. We can then encourage any hard core Trumpers to do the same. If they follow any of his “orders” to cause violence, charge them with the maximum and throw away the key. Send them to Gitmo. Have a trial in absentia, find him guilty and sentence him to 20 years. Investigate the hell out of any Republican politicians who supported the criminal treasonous Trump. Find out which ones have Russian money connections. [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=48) [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=50)