# 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:** 8
**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:** [August 9, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/141 "2022-08-09T14:48:50Z")
i’m wondering if some of it could be about the saudi golf thing. that would be a good cover for some nefarious acts. ---
**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 9, 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-15-2024/969329/142 "2022-08-09T14:50:55Z")
I think this was a fishing expedition by the DOJ and, in the end, not much will come of it. The infamous fifteen boxes of classified material were already recovered by the NA, so while the raid might have been related to that, it wasn’t for those boxes specifically. Maybe they had intel about specific documents still missing, but my guess is they used general suspicion that there _might_ be more to get the warrant, with the real goal of seeing if there’s any material that will help other prosecutions. The timing isn’t necessarily because they suddenly got new info; there is an unofficial “rule” that the DOJ doesn’t make politically bold moves within 90 days of an election, and the raid was 91 days before the election. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/143 "2022-08-09T14:54:12Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I think this was a fishing expedition by the DOJ… _Looks at Username_ You would, wouldn’t you? 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/144 "2022-08-09T14:57:20Z")
instead of “pot calling the kettle black”, would that be Catfish calling the trout “Fish”? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/145 "2022-08-09T15:03:48Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > the search was in his personal quarters and offices. anything in those areas. Not how it works. ---
**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 9, 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-15-2024/969329/146 "2022-08-09T15:07:09Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I think this was a fishing expedition by the DOJ and, in the end, not much will come of it. LOL. You don’t become the first FBI Director, the first Attorney General, and the first Federal judge in our nations history to grant a search and seize warrant for the home of a former President unless you’ve seen the smoking gun. There is zero chance these people put their careers _and their families_ at risk unless they have seen more than 15 boxes. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2022, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/147 "2022-08-09T15:08:01Z")
I don’t know what if anything will come of this but yeah, this doesn’t happen in the first place unless they’ve got solid cause for it. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/148 "2022-08-09T15:09:31Z")
I wouldn’t be surprised if the help is informing on him or even if the FBI had someone planted in the help. I’m sure Trump is the type to not even notice when they’re in the room. They’re just wallpaper. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/149 "2022-08-09T15:10:32Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > LOL. You don’t become the first FBI Director, the first Attorney General, and the first Federal judge in our nations history to grant a search and seize warrant for the home of a former President unless you’ve seen the smoking gun. There is zero chance these people put their careers _and their families_ at risk unless they have seen more than 15 boxes. Yeah. If Garland were giving lots of press conferences about how he was gonna get Trump, and going on talk shows to gin up outrage, and Tweeting memes about how Trump was going down, then I might think this was a fishing expedition. But Garland has maintained discipline in the face of tremendous political pressure, and he’s still not showboating. It’d be very out of character for him to be sloppy at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/150 "2022-08-09T15:12:31Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > my guess is they used general suspicion that there _might_ be more to get the warrant The chance of getting a warrant to search the home of a former President on such a basis is about equal to my chance of winning the Powerball lottery, and I didn’t buy a ticket. ---
**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 9, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/151 "2022-08-09T15:12:45Z")
And let’s not forget _Trump appointed these people_. Naw, this isn’t mere fishing. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/152 "2022-08-09T15:14:09Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Of course he doesn’t understand Thing One about Watergate. And the movie _All the President’s Men_ is way too slow and talky for him to watch. Surely you can’t be referring to the same thoughtful, serious student of history depicted in the New Yorker article “[Inside the War Between Trump and His Generals](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/08/15/inside-the-war-between-trump-and-his-generals)”, can you? 🤣 > The President’s loud complaint to John Kelly one day was typical: “You fucking generals, why can’t you be like the German generals?” > > “Which generals?” Kelly asked. > > “The German generals in World War II,” Trump responded. > > “You do know that they tried to kill Hitler three times and almost pulled it off?” Kelly said. > > But, of course, Trump did not know that. “No, no, no, they were totally loyal to him,” the President replied. In his version of history, the generals of the Third Reich had been completely subservient to Hitler ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/153 "2022-08-09T15:18:07Z")
> [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > this **pee shooter** thing is the absolute least of his worries this week. In different circumstances, I might not bother, but I AM trying to have my breakfast right now. **pea shooter.** ---
**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 9, 2022, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/154 "2022-08-09T15:25:18Z")
If the material were incriminating to him, they’d be flushed/burned/buried. I suspect (in my most conspiratorial way) that any documents he retained were for blackmail/influencing purposes. Useful in case the non-disclosure agreements his clan so loves proved insufficient as a gag. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/155 "2022-08-09T15:26:10Z")
For those hoping to see Trump frogmarched into prison, this was energizing. For those who believe and/or exploit the “they’re coming after you, but coming through me” bullshit, this is enraging. For everyone else, it’s not much more than “you didn’t drop off your company vehicle keys when you left, and since you did that just to be an asshole, we can be assholes too and come get them.” ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 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-15-2024/969329/156 "2022-08-09T15:27:59Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > The infamous fifteen boxes of classified material were already recovered by the NA, so while the raid might have been related to that, it wasn’t for those boxes specifically. That’s interesting. The return of the boxes in February wasn’t in the news reports I read this morning. It’s now been updated into the BBC report. > **[Donald Trump says FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Florida home](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62472908)** > > Monday's search was reportedly linked to an investigation into Mr Trump's handling of official papers. If Trump kept presidential documents that should have been returned to the National Archives when he returned the other documents, that certainly brings a concealment charge under U.S. Code §2071 into play. However, to prove that, the FBI/DOJ prosecutors will have to have found the missing documents rather than them being destroyed, prove that they could not reasonably be personal papers rather than documents under the Federal Records Act, and prove intent rather than that the missing documents were mishandled. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/157 "2022-08-09T15:28:20Z")
I do love a good, well deserved frogmarch LOL! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/158 "2022-08-09T15:31:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > > > this **pee shooter** thing is the absolute least of his worries this week. > > In different circumstances, I might not bother, but I AM trying to have my breakfast right now. > > **pea shooter.** No, he was talking about the alleged tapes of Trump with a Russian prostitute involving “water sports”. ---
**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 9, 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-15-2024/969329/159 "2022-08-09T15:32:09Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > If the material were incriminating to him, they’d be flushed/burned/buried. I suspect (in my most conspiratorial way) that any documents he retained were for blackmail/influencing purposes. Useful in case the non-disclosure agreements his clan so loves proved insufficient as a gag. Or @JohnT 's theory that he might be selling secrets (which he followed by noting that Trump had been visited by a person whose job it is to police such matters). ---
**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 9, 2022, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-search-and-seizure-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-residence-august-8-2022-case-dismissed-july-15-2024/969329/160 "2022-08-09T15:33:18Z")
With Trump, it’s always about the grift. These papers had to have (some perceived) monetary value in Trump’s eyes. - as smithsb says above - blackmail material, probably on fellow Republicans. I’ve often wondered why certain R’s still support him and the Big Lie. If this is the case, we’ll probably never hear much about it. They just wanted to get it back. - confidential military or diplomatic material that could be sold to the highest bidder. Saudi Arabia/Russia come to mind as bidders for this material. If this is the case, we’ll probably never hear much about it. They won’t want to reveal what sort of material was sold/lost. ETA: I lean towards the 2nd option. They may make Trump a private deal; We won’t charge you with espionage and seek the death penalty, and in return, you will not seek any public office and will shut the hell up. [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=7) [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=9)