# 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:** 55
**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:** [August 15, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1081 "2022-08-15T14:11:16Z")
> [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > I just hope Trump can bring McConnell, McCarthy, Cruz, and the other usual suspects down when he finally gets his just rewards through one of these court cases. (And then all of these cases.) “Made it, Ma! Top of the world!” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4t4YiXWPBpo/hqdefault.jpg "'Made it ma! Top of the World!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t4YiXWPBpo) ---
**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:** [August 15, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1082 "2022-08-15T15:44:16Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > how do you get catsup stains off them? Ketchup. Nice try, Donnie! ---
**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 15, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1083 "2022-08-15T16:03:51Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > And… yeah… speculating here, but it would seem readily apparent the target of the Mueller investigation… to name one at random… may take it upon himself to remove direct evidence of his involvement, especially since he was about _to lose control of that evidence_. While I have no doubt Trump would do that, there’s two factors: 1. This assumes the copies he has are the only copies in existence. While I’m sure there are at least a few documents like that in the US secrecy program, I’d imagine that for something like the Mueller investigation, there are multiple copies spread around several offices. 2. If he did have the only copies of such documents in existence, and they demonstrate his guilt, _why do they still exist?_ Trump should have had a bonfire the day after he got back to Florida in January. ---
**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 15, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1084 "2022-08-15T16:05:51Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Ketchup. > **[Is It Catsup or Ketchup?](https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/is-it-catsup-or-ketchup)** > > However you spell it, today’s Wonder of the Day goes great with French fries! ---
**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 15, 2022, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1085 "2022-08-15T16:14:22Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/P2-1basQhX8/hqdefault.jpg "Mr. Burns Ketchup Catsup Problem") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2-1basQhX8) ---
**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 15, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1086 "2022-08-15T16:53:32Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > If he did have the only copies of such documents in existence, and they demonstrate his guilt, _why do they still exist?_ Trump should have had a bonfire the day after he got back to Florida in January. Follow the grift. Trump assumed that they would be worth money to him; either to sell, or to use for blackmail purposes. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1087 "2022-08-15T17:07:29Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > While I’m sure there are at least a few documents like that in the US secrecy program, I’d imagine that for something like the Mueller investigation, there are multiple copies spread around several offices. On the one hand, this is true. On the other hand, Trump is a moron. ---
**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 15, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1088 "2022-08-15T18:27:50Z")
Tragedy on the Fox News desk leaves four injured: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52288500515_21c0512230_b.jpg "20220815\_132646") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68782016@N08/52288500515/) ---
**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 15, 2022, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1089 "2022-08-15T19:17:14Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > If he did have the only copies of such documents in existence, and they demonstrate his guilt, _why do they still exist?_ Trump should have had a bonfire the day after he got back to Florida in January. On the assumption that this is the case, they almost certainly contain info that will bring someone else down with him. Even if I wanted him to go to jail, I’d be fighting like hell to make sure whatever he has stays hidden if it getting exposed would put me in jail as well. See: Rand Paul and the Espionage Act. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1090 "2022-08-15T20:23:56Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > See: Rand Paul and the Espionage Act. Curious. Most of the faults he found with the Act equally apply to that egregious attack on individual freedoms called Freedom Fries the Patriot Act. I’d actually prefer to see Oranganus prosecuted as a terrorist via the Patriot Act provisions - no lawyers, no presenting of charges, no confronting your accusers, free travel to a black site of someone else’s choice. Maybe the wrong 3-letter agency conducted the discovery. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1091 "2022-08-15T20:34:53Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Most crimes do not result in criminal convictions. And most crimes also don’t consist of trying to sell nuclear secrets to the highest bidder. We’re not talking about jaywalking, here. > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I think that punishing someone with years in prison, because they failed to declassify a paper, when that president could have easily done it, is overreaching. Who’s “that president”? Trump isn’t President any more, and hasn’t been able to declassify anything for a year and a half. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I actually hope Trump does a runner. Russia or Saudi Arabia fit the bill. Honestly, I think that Trump fleeing to Russia or some other autocracy is the best-case outcome, as long as we make sure he doesn’t have any sensitive documents with him. It definitively gets him out of our hair, without making him a martyr, and it makes it a lot easier to get default judgements against him, his allies, and his assets. In most other cases, I’d worry about what secrets he has in his head, but for Trump, I doubt anything in there is in any recoverable format. ---
**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 15, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1092 "2022-08-15T20:37:30Z")
If the ridiculous claim (is there any other kind?) from Trump and his lawyers that Trump automatically declassified these documents was actually true, then the media (and even regular old you and me?) can request these documents via the Freedom Of Information Act. I think that media outlets should get this ball rolling to force the issue. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1093 "2022-08-15T20:52:00Z")
I expect his lawyers to issue an official statement that clarifies that he granted himself a special post-Presidential access and ownership of the documents, during the Presidency. They were declassified for Donald J Trump, not for the average person. ---
**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 15, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1094 "2022-08-15T20:53:59Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I think that media outlets should get this ball rolling to force the issue. Force what issue? Since it didn’t happen, there’s nothing to see. I’m not sure what you’d expect them to do. I get the point (maybe), but I don’t think it’s the gotcha you think it is. If anyone believed him, _they_ could make the request and get denied, but as for the rest of us, media included, we all know that would be a waste of time for all involved. ---
**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 15, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1095 "2022-08-15T20:57:19Z")
To help put to rest any claim that these documents have been declassified. Lots of gullible right wingers believe this bullshit. Give them another look behind the curtain. I don’t believe it would be a waste of time. ---
**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 15, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1096 "2022-08-15T20:59:21Z")
Mmmmm, I _love_ the taste of a something burger… > ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1097 "2022-08-15T21:00:47Z")
Loser Donald now claims the FBI took his passport. > **[Trump claims FBI seized his passports during Mar-a-Lago search: 'This is an...](https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-passport/)** > > Donald Trump claims FBI agents seized his passports when executing a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago.Investigators seized 11 sets of classified documents during the Aug. 8 search for possible violations of the Espionage Act, and the former president... ---
**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 15, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1098 "2022-08-15T21:01:56Z")
Before we jump on “three passports”, he would probably have his original (expired), his Presidential (diplomat status), and a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1099 "2022-08-15T21:05:19Z")
They’ve taken his passport, making it more difficult for him to run. > **[Donald Trump Labeled a 'Flight' Risk After Saying FBI Took His Passports](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-labeled-flight-risk-after-saying-fbi-took-his-passports-1733798)** > > Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform Monday that the FBI "stole" the passports, one of which he said was expired, during the Mar-a-Lago raid. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1100 "2022-08-15T21:05:38Z")
Seizing his passports is a good preventative measure. Trump’s got a private plane, tons of overseas contacts, lots of money, and even has places he could live in other countries. If anyone is a flight risk, _he_ is. [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=54) [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=56)