# 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:** 70
**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 20, 2022, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1381 "2022-08-20T05:54:00Z")
You literally have proof that this is a fact; that he is objectively bad. You can still dislike liberals and Trump at the same time though, fortunately. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2022, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1382 "2022-08-20T10:49:55Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > To be fair, the redacted parts will all be “Orange Man Bad” as well. > > The Orange Man really is bad, and an affidavit that goes into detail about many of the Orange Man’s crimes is going to contain a healthy portion of Orange Man Bad. Just released: [![](https://i.imgur.com/guRPEBl.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/guRPEBl.jpg) [KIdding, of course] ---
**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 20, 2022, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1383 "2022-08-20T12:56:03Z")
[America’s Mayor comes through](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-trump-documents_n_62ff16fbe4b063894831c567) with a novel defense and assuages our fears: all the documents were as safe in trump’s basement as they would be in the National Archives. ---
**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 20, 2022, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1384 "2022-08-20T15:42:02Z")
Somehow I doubt that when you can buy ten no-skill [padlock lockpicking shims](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256802640638135.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.2b1f3e2bnOiZYT&algo_pvid=170a5334-b7a4-488d-9d4c-200783797b85&algo_exp_id=170a5334-b7a4-488d-9d4c-200783797b85-6&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000022362921002%22%7D&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%213.1%211.83%21%21%21%21%21%40210318bb16610098699762004e40b6%2112000022362921002%21sea&curPageLogUid=0kGNuKU08xr3) for less than two bucks. ---
**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 20, 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-15-2024/969329/1385 "2022-08-20T15:44:27Z")
…and they had to be told to even use the padlock in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1386 "2022-08-21T17:05:14Z")
Mick Mulvaney goes on CNN to confirm Trump is guilty and knew what he was doing: > **[Mick Mulvaney said the classified documents recovered from Trump's Mar-a-Lago...](https://news.yahoo.com/mick-mulvaney-said-classified-documents-061909032.html)** > > Mick Mulvaney told CNN that a search warrant should have only been used if there was evidence the documents might be revealed or destroyed. I like this quote in particular: > Mulvaney also said in the interview that Trump would not have taken the classified documents if he did not “perceive it to be in his own interest, a benefit to him,” but that it may have been an oversight. ---
**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 21, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1387 "2022-08-21T17:20:05Z")
Trump wouldn’t have broken the law unless he felt he could benefit from doing so. Tell us something we don’t know, Mickey! ---
**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:** [August 21, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1388 "2022-08-21T17:51:45Z")
What a poor attempt at a CYA move. I knew he had them but didn’t think it was a big deal, not worthy of a warrant. Of course he wouldn’t because to admit so makes him an accesory. Which he is. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2022, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1389 "2022-08-21T22:15:32Z")
Saw this way of putting it shomewhere else: The FBI came on to him like a bitch! When you have probable cause you can do that! Grab 'em by the evidence! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1390 "2022-08-22T00:57:41Z")
[smashes the non-existent “LIKE” button about a billion times] I am so going to meme this. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1391 "2022-08-22T13:34:28Z")
I think this will fit here… Could the FBI have made a sting in regard to the classified documents? Contact Trump acting as someone that would like to buy the documents. Would that be entrapment? Don’t they do this kind of stuff with drug dealers? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1392 "2022-08-22T14:04:40Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Could the FBI have made a sting in regard to the classified documents? Contact Trump acting as someone that would like to buy the documents. I don’t know that Trump had any plans to sell the documents. I get the impression that Trump doesn’t plan much of anything. When Trump sees something of value (people, property, ideas, favors) he claims it for himself. The documents he stole were leverage; something to keep until he found a use for them, or could trade for something better. ---
**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:** [August 22, 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-15-2024/969329/1393 "2022-08-22T14:10:44Z")
I would think at this point Trump knows the heads of all criminal nations and would only deal with people he already knew. Sending in a supposed representative of say North Korea would be easy for him to spot since there would be no love message attached to the communication. ---
**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 22, 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-15-2024/969329/1394 "2022-08-22T14:23:37Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Could the FBI have made a sting in regard to the classified documents? Contact Trump acting as someone that would like to buy the documents. My WAG is that it would be entrapment if, based on only knowing that he had them, offered to buy them. However, if ‘word on the street’ was that he was looking for a buyer, that would be different. > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I would think at this point Trump knows the heads of all criminal nations and would only deal with people he already knew And as more and more rats are fleeing the sinking ship, it’s entirely possible one/some of those people would work with the FBI to lessen any punishment they know is coming. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1395 "2022-08-22T14:30:19Z")
Thanks for the responses all. Yeah, all he knew was that they probably had value. If nothing else, they had value to boost his ego. That’s nearly as important as $. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1396 "2022-08-22T15:41:58Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > My WAG is that it would be entrapment if, based on only knowing that he had them, offered to buy them. > However, if ‘word on the street’ was that he was looking for a buyer, that would be different. No, I think it wouldn’t be entrapment in the first scenario. If you have illegal goods, and an undercover cop offers to buy them, then if you agree you’ve attempted to sell illegal goods. It’s not entrapment just because the police officer gave you the opportunity. Entrapment would be more like if the feds transported documents to Mar a Lago for safe keeping, then turned around and tried to convict trump for illegal possession. ---
**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 22, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1397 "2022-08-22T16:13:02Z")
Trump would have a hell of a time arguing entrapment. [https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-645-entrapment-elements](https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-645-entrapment-elements) > Entrapment is a complete defense to a criminal charge, on the theory that “Government agents may not originate a criminal design, implant in an innocent person’s mind the disposition to commit a criminal act, and then induce commission of the crime so that the Government may prosecute.” _Jacobson v. United States_ , 503 U.S. 540, 548 (1992). A valid entrapment defense has two related elements: (1) government inducement of the crime, and (2) the defendant’s lack of predisposition to engage in the criminal conduct. He already illegally took the documents in the first place. If he had a legal right to those documents and the government induced him to illegally sell them, that would be one thing, but he already broke the law taking them in the first place, as well as failing to return them when told he had to. ---
**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 22, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1398 "2022-08-22T16:45:33Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > No, I think it wouldn’t be entrapment in the first scenario. If you have illegal goods, and an undercover cop offers to buy them, then if you agree you’ve attempted to sell illegal goods. It’s not entrapment just because the police officer gave you the opportunity. > > Entrapment would be more like if the feds transported documents to Mar a Lago for safe keeping, then turned around and tried to convict trump for illegal possession. I was going to say an argument could be made for entrapment. My argument being that he could say ‘I was just keeping them for [some made up ‘personal’ reason], but then this guy offered me tens of millions of dollars and threatened to tell the FBI if I didn’t sell them to him’ or something along those lines. However, wiki says: > In the United States, two competing tests exist for determining whether entrapment has taken place, known as the “subjective” and “objective” tests. > > - The “subjective” test looks at the defendant’s state of mind; entrapment can be claimed if the defendant had no “predisposition” to commit the crime. > - The “objective” test looks instead at the government’s conduct; entrapment occurs when the actions of government officers would usually have caused a normally law-abiding person to commit a crime. It would be a stretch to show that he has no predisposition to crime or that he’s normally law-abiding. FWIW, I’m not saying that’s how those definitions get applied in this scenario, I just thought it was amusing. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1399 "2022-08-22T16:49:10Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > He already illegally took the documents in the first place. If he had a legal right to those documents and the government induced him to illegally sell them, that would be one thing, but he already broke the law taking them in the first place, as well as failing to return them when told he had to. Cool. But as far as I know, Trump was never roped into any sting to sell them. IMHO, he probably had buyers bidding already. Not that it would make one damn bit of difference at this point. ---
**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 22, 2022, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/1400 "2022-08-22T16:50:57Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > My argument being that he could say ‘I was just keeping them for [some made up ‘personal’ reason], but then this guy offered me tens of millions of dollars **and threatened to tell the FBI if I didn’t sell them to him’** The bolded part would be the entrapment, in that case. Merely making it possible for someone to commit a crime generally isn’t entrapment. The cops have to go beyond that, into pressuring, harassing, or threatening the person into committing the crime. Of course, he’d _say_ he was coerced, but figuring out if he really was would be up to the courts. [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=69) [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=71)