Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Home Raided by FBI

 

Via Fox News.

Former President Trump on Monday said that his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida is “under siege” by a “large group” of FBI agents.

“Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before. After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” Trump said. “It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections.”

“Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries. Sadly, America has now become one of those Countries, corrupt at a level not seen before,” Trump said, alleging that the FBI agents broke into his safe.

“What is the difference between this and Watergate, where operatives broke into the Democrat National Committee?” he said. “Here, in reverse, Democrats broke into the home of the 45th President of the United States.”

Multiple sources tell Fox News the FBI’s raid of Mar-a-Lago is related to the materials Trump allegedly brought to his private residence after his presidency concluded. That matter was referred to the Justice Department by the National Archives and Records Administration, which said it found classified material in 15 boxes at the residence.

Per the CNN article, he was not home at the time.

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  1. J Climacus Member
    J Climacus
    @JClimacus

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    J Climacus (View Comment):

    This is depressing. I’ve always believed that part of the exceptionalism we have as Americans is the fundamental soundness of our institutions. Sure we have corrupt government officials, and even significant pockets of institutional malfeasance. But I never thought we had corrupt institutions per se.

    I know some of you had already gone there a long time ago, but I was holding out in my basic faith in our institutions. Well, I’m not anymore. The FBI isn’t just a basically sound institution with some corrupt agents, it’s now a corrupt institution at its core. Like I say, its depressing, because my whole attitude toward government and our nation is now changing.

    I’m in the same position as you. I found this raid to be a shocking event, which I suppose I shouldn’t have.

    I also felt that this raid changed everything – it put us in a different place, as a country. But honestly, we were probably already there.

    There is no one so blind as he who will not see. Apparently I’ve been fooling myself.

    This is pretty hard to ignore, though. Even if you want to.

    Another disturbing event is the massive increase in the IRS’s budget, including tens of thousands of new auditors.  The Democrats are making sure to get their weaponization of the bureaucracy in place before they lose Congress this autumn.  The administrative state including the FBI and the IRS among others will be used to brazenly persecute conservatives in the runup to the 2024 elections. I think the civil disorder and social breakdown we will see in the 2024 election year will be orders of magnitude larger than anything we’ve seen.  As in the 2020 election, the losing side won’t accept the result, but the consequences will be much more significant. Instead of grumbling and calls for vote audits, we may have states refusing to accept the result of the election.

    • #151
  2. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    MarciN (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Andy McCarthy is pretty sure this is not about any classified documents, but a fishing expedition to find something, anything, that might give them a reason to charge Trump with some Jan.6-related felony.

    He’s probably right.

    He still displays way too much faith that the DOJ isn’t a thoroughly corrupt organization.

    Frankly, anything to do with the J6 protest is nothing more than a sick fishing expedition.

    It was a protest.

    A dust-up. I’m not an NFL coach so I have the freedom of speech to say that without it affecting my life, employment and livelihood. This was a planned trap by Nancy Pelosi and her state police. Such a shame that so many so-called conservatives fell for it hook, line and sinker. Idiots.

    • #152
  3. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    I’d like to know what judge signed off on the search warrant and why.  I also want to know who appointed him . . .

    • #153
  4. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    Stad (View Comment):

    I’d like to know what judge signed off on the search warrant and why. I also want to know who appointed him . . .

    Judge Bruce Reinhart Who Signed Warrant to Raid Trump’s Home at Mar-a-Lago Previously Worked for Jeffrey Epstein — Please Help TGP In Our Legal Quest to Get Epstein Client List (thegatewaypundit.com)

    • #154
  5. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Django (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I’d like to know what judge signed off on the search warrant and why. I also want to know who appointed him . . .

    Judge Bruce Reinhart Who Signed Warrant to Raid Trump’s Home at Mar-a-Lago Previously Worked for Jeffrey Epstein — Please Help TGP In Our Legal Quest to Get Epstein Client List (thegatewaypundit.com)

    This is kind of murky, and probably essentially correct, but my understanding is that he worked for Epstein “associates” after serving as a prosecutor.  

    • #155
  6. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):
    The appropriate response is the one Kevin McCarthy promised: when Republicans take back the house, scour the institutions, beginning with the DoJ.

    Promises, promises.

    I have no doubt they will do nothing if they take the House Back.

     

    Nothing good, that is. They’ll print plenty of money to continually fund the swamp. 

    • #156
  7. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    J Climacus (View Comment):

    But I never thought we had corrupt institutions per se.

    I know some of you had already gone there a long time ago, but I was holding out in my basic faith in our institutions. Well, I’m not anymore. The FBI isn’t just a basically sound institution with some corrupt agents, it’s now a corrupt institution at its core. 

    Yes, it’s the opposite. The FBI is a corrupt institution with only a few good agents left,  mostly at retirement age and being pressured to play ball or get out. It was a hard realization for me as well but the more I learn about the history the more I learn that it’s always been this way; we’re just finally getting an accurate understanding of the damage they been doing in the dark . It’s like when a floorboard begins to sag and when you pull it up you realize the entire foundation is nearly rotted away by scurrying bugs and saturated with leaking sewage. 

    • #157
  8. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Stad (View Comment):

    I’d like to know what judge signed off on the search warrant and why. I also want to know who appointed him . . .

    Django (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I’d like to know what judge signed off on the search warrant and why. I also want to know who appointed him . . .

    Judge Bruce Reinhart Who Signed Warrant to Raid Trump’s Home at Mar-a-Lago Previously Worked for Jeffrey Epstein — Please Help TGP In Our Legal Quest to Get Epstein Client List (thegatewaypundit.com)

    As I understand it, he was not a political appointment such that he ever needed Senate approval.

    • #158
  9. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Stad (View Comment):

    I’d like to know what judge signed off on the search warrant and why. I also want to know who appointed him . . .

    The warrant was issued by a federal magistrate judge.  These positions are a rung below federal district court judges, but perform many of the same functions.  They are not appointed by the President, but are chosen after applying by a panel in the appropriate district.

    • #159
  10. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Django (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I’d like to know what judge signed off on the search warrant and why. I also want to know who appointed him . . .

    Judge Bruce Reinhart Who Signed Warrant to Raid Trump’s Home at Mar-a-Lago Previously Worked for Jeffrey Epstein — Please Help TGP In Our Legal Quest to Get Epstein Client List (thegatewaypundit.com)

    This is kind of murky, and probably essentially correct, but my understanding is that he worked for Epstein “associates” after serving as a prosecutor.

    When I read TGP articles it’s not for accuracy in the details. It’s as a clue to info that probably won’t show up elsewhere for a week or two. 

    • #160
  11. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    There probably won’t even be an election in 2022, much less 2024.

    And anyway, if we do have an election, it’ll probably be stolen so the Democrats remain in power.

    And even if we do have an election and Republicans manage to win it, nothing will change because Republicans are useless.

    Oh, and we will never overturn Roe v. Wade.

    You may be correct about all of those things.

    You’re obviously correct about the last one – we thought we overturned Roe v. Wade, but judges will uphold abortion state by state anyway until the federal government can respond.  So that is already coming true.

    As to your other predictions, we’ll see.  I hope you’re wrong.  I really do.

    • #161
  12. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Stad (View Comment):

    I’d like to know what judge signed off on the search warrant and why. I also want to know who appointed him . . .

    It is not a judge. It was a “magistrate”. https://ricochet.com/1297050/where-is-the-outrage-3/#comment-6367377

    Hat tip to @ejhill

    • #162
  13. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Andy McCarthy is pretty sure this is not about any classified documents, but a fishing expedition to find something, anything, that might give them a reason to charge Trump with some Jan.6-related felony.

    He’s probably right.

    He still displays way too much faith that the DOJ isn’t a thoroughly corrupt organization.

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):

    Andy McCarthy’s piece today is both interesting and disturbing (I won’t bother with the link since it’s behind the paywall).

    First, he hypothesizes that the search was authorized based on clear allegations of wrongdoing related to classified documents and the National Archives.  He believes that this clearly-authorized search was a pretext to find evidence related to Jan. 6.

    • #163
  14. Autistic License Coolidge
    Autistic License
    @AutisticLicense

    WI Con (View Comment):

    Metalheaddoc (View Comment):

    I must say, I am curious to see what the FBI plants and then “discovers” then leaks to their media sycophants.

    On the bright side, Andrew McCarthy doesn’t have to write a column this week. He can dust off an old “FBI/DOJ is full of honest patriotic civil servants” chestnut.

    It would be hilarious if those files had Epstein’s and Maxwell’s Pedo-Island/Client lists.

    His National Review column is worth a read.  In short they’re out to justify the J6 allegations and the hunt for classified documents is a pretext.  No doubt they’ll find some documents, even without having to bring any along.   I’m told it was once illegal in Boston to own a dog over 10” tall.  I haven’t checked that, so that makes me a journalist.  Anyhow, something illegal will be found.

    What they need is

    Docupants! 

     

     

    • #164
  15. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Columbo (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I’d like to know what judge signed off on the search warrant and why. I also want to know who appointed him . . .

    It is not a judge. It was a “magistrate”. https://ricochet.com/1297050/where-is-the-outrage-3/#comment-6367377

    Hat tip to @ ejhill

    Quibble:  the magistrate is a type of judge in the federal system.  See #159 above.

    • #165
  16. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Raxxalan (View Comment):

    I would bet it is something that is politically damaging to Biden. The FBI is just a retrieval agency for the skeletons in Biden’s closet now.

    Just two weeks ago, Chuck Grassley sent a letter to Wray and Garland saying that a lot of whistleblower were coming forward claiming that the FBI and DOJ coordinated a cover-up of the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop. Maybe they’re related.

    Remember Sandy Burglar? [link] That is the precedent for any consequence to President Trump.  Sandy Berger, President Clinton’s national security adviser (!) stuffed classified documents from the national arcives down his pants for BJ! And the FBI made no early morning raid on his house!

    • #166
  17. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    I listened to Hugh Hewitt’s podcast that is edited and shortened from his radio show. He said conflicts about “classified documents” in the possession of former presidents are common. Former presidents receive classified briefings after they leave office. Those conflicts are routinely resolved via letter, email, and telephone calls. Hugh (who as a lawyer has represented the Nixon archives) said that just 3 years ago he resolved one such dispute  – 45 years after Nixon left office. A raid is completely unnecessary and over-the-top. 

    • #167
  18. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    I listened to Hugh Hewitt’s podcast that is edited and shortened from his radio show. He said conflicts about “classified documents” in the possession of former presidents are common. Former presidents receive classified briefings after they leave office. Those conflicts are routinely resolved via letter, email, and telephone calls. Hugh (who as a lawyer has represented the Nixon archives) said that just 3 years ago he resolved one such dispute – 45 years after Nixon left office. A raid is completely unnecessary and over-the-top.

    The point is the intimidation factor. The point is the show of force.

    • #168
  19. Joe Boyle Member
    Joe Boyle
    @JoeBoyle

    “When we take the House” I’m sure I’ve heard that before. Even if McCarthy is sincere, it means nothing. Progressives control multiple layers. K-12, vile and servile voters, city councils, school boards, county reps, state reps, higher education, the media, all the federal agencies, health care, and many more. You can’t fix it with a vote. You cannot turn the Sahara into Central Park by purchasing a Prius. Zoo animals and forests don’t fare well in a progressive state. Venezuela will be here soon. You’ll be sodomized five times before you know your pants are down.

    • #169
  20. David C. Broussard Coolidge
    David C. Broussard
    @Dbroussa

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    True, to a point, but often documents that are in an ex-President’s possession are classified later.  However, that does not excuse this raid and how it came about.

    • #170
  21. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Autistic License (View Comment):

    WI Con (View Comment):

    Metalheaddoc (View Comment):

    I must say, I am curious to see what the FBI plants and then “discovers” then leaks to their media sycophants.

    On the bright side, Andrew McCarthy doesn’t have to write a column this week. He can dust off an old “FBI/DOJ is full of honest patriotic civil servants” chestnut.

    It would be hilarious if those files had Epstein’s and Maxwell’s Pedo-Island/Client lists.

    His National Review column is worth a read. In short they’re out to justify the J6 allegations and the hunt for classified documents is a pretext. No doubt they’ll find some documents, even without having to bring any along. I’m told it was once illegal in Boston to own a dog over 10” tall. I haven’t checked that, so that makes me a journalist.

    That was a long article and I may have missed something.   But the best argument for assuming classified docs weren’t the real goal is that Trump would not be prohibited for running for President if he violated that statute.

    On the other hand, if he were to be convicted of a felony in connection with Jan. 6, he would be barred from becoming President.  Since the whole purpose of what’s been going on, including the Committee, seems to be about keeping him out of the WH, it seems unlikely that a classified document case is what they are looking for.

    • #171
  22. Nathanael Ferguson Contributor
    Nathanael Ferguson
    @NathanaelFerguson

    Yesterday I was of the opinion that this officially makes the United States a banana republic. After giving it more thought, that is unfair to both bananas and republics. Our government is now full blown fascist in ways that would make the East German Stasi blush. My apologies to any bananas, republics, or banana republics who were offended by my previous wrongthink. 

    • #172
  23. David C. Broussard Coolidge
    David C. Broussard
    @Dbroussa

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):
    McCarthy suggests this is typical behavior for a prosecutor who (by way of example) knows a criminal has committed crime X (for which there’s ample evidence) but who would also like to know if the criminal has committed crime Y (for which there’s less than ample evidence).  So the prosecutor gets a legal warrant based on crime X, and hopes to find evidence during the search of crime Y.  McCarthy claims this is normal behavior for prosecutors.

    This seems to be very wrong to me.  That this behavior is allowed at all is a problem.  Of course, we see that with broken taillight stops that lead to a firearms possession, but one could argue that driving your car on public streets is a much lower level of privacy than one’s own home.

    • #173
  24. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Nathanael Ferguson (View Comment):

    Yesterday I was of the opinion that this officially makes the United States a banana republic. After giving it more thought, that is unfair to both bananas and republics. Our government is now full blown fascist in ways that would make the East German Stasi blush. My apologies to any bananas, republics, or banana republics who were offended by my previous wrongthink.

    It’s a good thing the United Fruit Co. is long gone or you would really be in trouble.

    • #174
  25. Nathanael Ferguson Contributor
    Nathanael Ferguson
    @NathanaelFerguson

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Nathanael Ferguson (View Comment):

    Yesterday I was of the opinion that this officially makes the United States a banana republic. After giving it more thought, that is unfair to both bananas and republics. Our government is now full blown fascist in ways that would make the East German Stasi blush. My apologies to any bananas, republics, or banana republics who were offended by my previous wrongthink.

    It’s a good thing the United Fruit Co. is long gone or you would really be in trouble.

    All I can do now is enter a reeducation camp and engage in vigorous self-criticism. 

    • #175
  26. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Nathanael Ferguson (View Comment):

    Yesterday I was of the opinion that this officially makes the United States a banana republic. After giving it more thought, that is unfair to both bananas and republics. Our government is now full blown fascist in ways that would make the East German Stasi blush. My apologies to any bananas, republics, or banana republics who were offended by my previous wrongthink.

    • #176
  27. Nathanael Ferguson Contributor
    Nathanael Ferguson
    @NathanaelFerguson

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Nathanael Ferguson (View Comment):

    Yesterday I was of the opinion that this officially makes the United States a banana republic. After giving it more thought, that is unfair to both bananas and republics. Our government is now full blown fascist in ways that would make the East German Stasi blush. My apologies to any bananas, republics, or banana republics who were offended by my previous wrongthink.

    I think it is possible to be patriotic about our county while simultaneously being ashamed of and outraged by our national government. 

    • #177
  28. David C. Broussard Coolidge
    David C. Broussard
    @Dbroussa

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    I listened to Hugh Hewitt’s podcast that is edited and shortened from his radio show. He said conflicts about “classified documents” in the possession of former presidents are common. Former presidents receive classified briefings after they leave office. Those conflicts are routinely resolved via letter, email, and telephone calls. Hugh (who as a lawyer has represented the Nixon archives) said that just 3 years ago he resolved one such dispute – 45 years after Nixon left office. A raid is completely unnecessary and over-the-top.

    The point is the intimidation factor. The point is the show of force.

    Exactly, it is reminiscent of the spate of early morning raids on various supporters of Governor Scott Walker where the police would break down the door of the house and then lead the family (in night clothes) out in the street where the neighbors had been awakened by the flashing blue and red lights.  And then…to really make it fun, they would slap a gag order on the victims of the search telling them that they could not talk to anyone about the raid or why it happened.  So, the neighbors would see you out on the curb being guarded by armed police but if they ask you about it, you have to say that you cannot tell them anything.  Eventually this was declared to be unconstitutional, but it took years, and lots of money to win.

    Ironically, this article by David French from pre-Trump 2015 is one of the better writeups of how bad these were.  It’s amazing to me to read this and then see how much he has changed, but…

    Wisconsin’s Shame: ‘I Thought It Was a Home Invasion’ | National Review

    • #178
  29. Justin Other Lawyer Coolidge
    Justin Other Lawyer
    @DouglasMyers

    David C. Broussard (View Comment):

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):
    McCarthy suggests this is typical behavior for a prosecutor who (by way of example) knows a criminal has committed crime X (for which there’s ample evidence) but who would also like to know if the criminal has committed crime Y (for which there’s less than ample evidence). So the prosecutor gets a legal warrant based on crime X, and hopes to find evidence during the search of crime Y. McCarthy claims this is normal behavior for prosecutors.

    This seems to be very wrong to me. That this behavior is allowed at all is a problem. Of course, we see that with broken taillight stops that lead to a firearms possession, but one could argue that driving your car on public streets is a much lower level of privacy than one’s own home.

    I’m sort of in the middle on this one.  The actual example McCarthy used in his column is not terribly troubling to me.  He used the example of a known drug dealer (who the FBI has been keeping a close eye on) becoming a suspect in an armed robbery case.  In the hypo, the FBI has the goods on the drug dealing, but had not pulled the trigger on a warrant because, in the scheme of things, the drug dealing was pretty small beer.

    But with the armed robbery having taken place, and the FBI suspecting the dealer to have been involved in the robbery but without evidence, they decide to obtain a warrant for the drug dealing to see what they find during the search.

    The reason the hypo doesn’t trouble me that much is that the FBI would have taken down the drug dealer for dealing drugs eventually.  It was just a matter of time.  If by looking for the drugs they find evidence of another crime, all the better and the bad guy goes away for a longer time.

    But with the Trump situation, the “classified documents” issue would never have prompted a raid/prosecution under normal circumstances.  J-Pod on the Commentary podcast did an excellent job of explaining how prosecuting a former president for mishandling classified documents (when it’s his job to make the classifications!) is a fool’s errand and would almost certainly end with an acquittal.  So in this case, the search was merely pretextual–not an actual good reason that would possibly happen to bring about an added benefit.

    • #179
  30. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Nathanael Ferguson (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Nathanael Ferguson (View Comment):

    Yesterday I was of the opinion that this officially makes the United States a banana republic. After giving it more thought, that is unfair to both bananas and republics. Our government is now full blown fascist in ways that would make the East German Stasi blush. My apologies to any bananas, republics, or banana republics who were offended by my previous wrongthink.

    I think it is possible to be patriotic about our county while simultaneously being ashamed of and outraged by our national government.

    Oh, that’s me. I love America, I loathe the current government.

    • #180
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