They should have given him his passport, and an escort to the airport. Buh bye!
ETA: But I’m sure Russia or Saudi Arabia won’t care if he arrives without a passport. They’d let him in anyway. I’m sure he can just sneak off and hop on his private plane with no passport. “I’m just going for some hamberders! Cofeve!”
Just to clarify, the “flight risk” label is speculation from people on social media, not a stance the government has taken. We don’t know under what circumstances they were taken, or if they really were taken. (I could totally see him misplacing them and blaming the FBI.)
Do you think any of them would say “welp, that’s that. I guess he [Trump] was lying” or is it more likely they’ll just believe whatever reason Trump tells them for why they couldn’t get them via a FIOA request (ie the clerk lied to you). Even so, he’ll just shift to the next lie. He gave multiple, contradictory reasons, all lies, some not even actually possible, for why he had the files he didn’t have and why he wants the FBI to return the files they planted.
Anyone that’s stood by trump for the last 6 years isn’t going to have their mind changed by this. If anything, it’ll just get them even more angry. Remember, when it comes to these people, like conspiracy theorists, roadblocks don’t mean ‘you’re on the wrong path’, they mean ‘you’re getting closer to solving this’.
Look at it like this. If they believed the last 30,000 lies, why is lie 30,001 going to be the deal breaker?
Personally, I would prefer all the lies and half-baked justifications to simply be ignored and TPTB keep pushing forward with the investigation.
Otherwise it’s like arguing with a flat-earther or anti-vaxxer. You’re not going to change their mind and, in fact, you’re not even sure if they actually believe what they’re saying of if they’re just screwing with you.
Any crack at breaking a Trump voter is worth it. You’re free to disagree fer chrissakes.
I’m curious how many of his domestic ties would still work if he did flee? When I heard people talking about passports and being a flight risk, my initial thought was that if he up and moved to Saudi Arabia or Russia…maybe let him? He’d be out of our hair, we wouldn’t have to deal with trying him, it would all be over. But, OTOH, who knows how many strings he could still pull from the other side of the world.
Unless he’s been indicted, he’s not a ‘flight risk’. Sure, he may leave the country; but any free citizen with a passport can too. He should have his passport(s) returned. If he skips town, well… Don’t let the door hit you.
This might be expedient on the one hand, but it’s not by the book. And Merrick Garland is totally by-the-book. The chips will fall where they may. Personally, I agree this is how it should be done.
Perhaps it will cheer you to hear that I don’t believe anyone has said passports were seized except Trump – and we know how reliable that source is.
It would be more usual to seize passports at the time of arrest, so I’m not sure what to make of this story at this point. The documents inventory is vague enough that passports could be part of what was seized. Or maybe not. Passports are not specifically listed.
If it’s from Trump, it’s most likely bullshit.
ETA: I’d be pleased if the DOJ just came right out and said “The statement by Mr. Trump that his passport(s) were seized is simply a lie.”
Since Trump lies just as readily as he breathes, the passport thing is just as likely to be a fabrication intended to further rile up his base. If true, however, it would stop him from most international travel, although not from escape to a dictatorship like Russia where no passport would be required if Putin wanted to give him sanctuary, if only to piss off the United States.
Regarding any valid diplomatic passport he may have had, my understanding (at least from the policies of other countries) is that it’s at least a violation of diplomatic protocol to use a diplomatic passport for personal travel, no matter who you are.
Better if they don’t dignify his BS with a comment. Hell, if they start issuing statements every time he lies, they’d never get any investigatin’ and arrestin’ done! That would be a full-time job in itself.
This is an acceptable outcome. In fact, this would be the preferred outcome - perhaps some of his fans will follow him over there, and he’d be out of the news cycle. Maybe TPTB should make sure he has a fueled jet waiting at the airport as well.
And we know Trump would never violate a protocol!
Would other countries refuse to recognize it?
Countries that follow the rule of law? They would not recognize it.
Countries like Russia? They follow no laws.
Nevermind, I thought I read “prostitute”.
For those that just hope DJT just flies away to Moscow, please consider that an influential Political Exile with domestic followers is also a potential risk.
Imagine being UN-tethered from pesky US law in today’s information age.
Kind of like Russia recalling an international spy.
Trump: 007
Revenge Tour!
Throwing martinis at the wall and pulling tablecloths!
You are thinking about it logically - admirable, but not helpful in this case. Consider the last week:
Trump: The FBI planted the documents!
Rational person: There are processes and documentation that prove this didn’t happen.
Trump: I declassified them!
RP: There is a process to be followed for declassification, and you didn’t.
Trump: No, I really did!
RP: Then I’ll file a FOI request for them and prove you wrong.
Trump: They are privileged documents and I need them back!
RP: Nuclear secrets? I think not.
The rational person thinks they are winning, knocking down every argument with facts and logic. But really, they’re just dancing to Trump’s tune.
Trump knows his excuses aren’t consistent; pointing that out isn’t “winning”. His game is to fling so many excuses and garbage out there, that most people just tune out. Low-information voters aren’t considering each counter-argument; they throw up their hands and think it’s all just dirty politics.
We win by ignoring the excuses and focusing on the crimes.
There have been a few articles that said the passports weren’t on the list of things taken. If it was his drivers license, I’d say that his kids probably took it. Would anyone have reason to confiscate or relocate his passport?
I wish I knew.
The inventory of documents taken from Mar-A-Lago is sufficiently vague (on purpose) that passports could have been included – or they may not. Since Trump is (so far as I know) the only source for saying the passports were taken, I don’t trust it at all. My experience tells me they wouldn’t have taken a passport at this time, but rather at the time of arrest.
I can think of no reason they would have to confiscate his driver’s license. (Does he even have a driver’s license?)
Not much help, I’m afraid!
If someone with Photoshop skillz would like to do the honors, I present Howard W. Campbell, Jr. Donald J. Trump, Seven Star General, Free American Corps,
Really needs a lot more gold though.