What Was the Purpose of the Raid on Mar-a-Lago?

 

It’s been almost two weeks and the purpose of the raid is unclear. Leaks indicating that they were looking for nuclear secrets appear to be far-fetched. If Trump took nonclassified records that didn’t belong to him, that could have been resolved given his cooperation in June. Some of the FBI people were also participants in the Russia hoax.

Some have suggested, including a Newsweek reporter, that they were looking for Russiagate documents, including Crossfire Hurricane ones. But it seems improbable that Trump would have only one copy of these records. Wouldn’t copies and scanned versions have been made of anything related to Russiagate? What think ye?

If the raid was to retrieve Russiagate documents, then it’s not about Trump malfeasance but is instead about covering up the illegal and unethical activities of the FBI, CIA, etc.

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  1. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    I think they’ve given us more than a dozen excuses by now. They’re throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks, and their media minions are happily pretending this is all just fine.

    What I thought was really funny was when the media shouted that Trump must release the warrant! So he does, and then they shout “How dare you release the warrant? That endangers the FBI!”

    Whatever affidavit gets released will be so heavily redacted as to be useless. We’ll never see the actual thing.

    • #1
  2. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    They will never get a commupance. They never do. 

    • #2
  3. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    I think the hope was 1/6 memorabilia.  And a lovely gown, shoes and accessories.  Maybe the big reason for the raid is to show they could.

    • #3
  4. MWD B612 "Dawg" Member
    MWD B612 "Dawg"
    @danok1

    Eustace C. Scrubb (View Comment):
    Maybe the big reason for the rais is to show they could.

    Bingo.

    • #4
  5. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    Eustace C. Scrubb (View Comment):

    I think the hope was 1/6 memorabilia. And a lovely gown, shoes and accessories. Maybe the big reason for the raid is to show they could.

    To put everyone one notice: “You may even be above the law, but you are never above the State. “If we can do this to an ex-President, we can certainly do it to you, the ordinary citizen.”

    • #5
  6. MWD B612 "Dawg" Member
    MWD B612 "Dawg"
    @danok1

    Jim McConnell (View Comment):

    Eustace C. Scrubb (View Comment):

    I think the hope was 1/6 memorabilia. And a lovely gown, shoes and accessories. Maybe the big reason for the raid is to show they could.

    To put everyone one notice: “You may even be above the law, but you are never above the State. “If we can do this to an ex-President, we can certainly do it to you, the ordinary citizen.”

    Not too sure about this. The average citizen has known for at least a few decades that LE can mount a raid on him/her. No, this was to show high-level politicians that they’re vulnerable to the “security state” (for lack of a better term) as well.

    • #6
  7. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    Trump just filed suit against HRC and some FBI types. Maybe they’re just trying to deprive him of the documents which will mysteriously disappear.

    • #7
  8. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    Trump just filed suit against HRC and some FBI types. Maybe they’re just trying to deprive him of the documents which will mysteriously disappear.

    I’m fairly certain that’s what this is about.

    • #8
  9. DonG (CAGW is a Scam) Coolidge
    DonG (CAGW is a Scam)
    @DonG

    Richard Easton: improbable that Trump would have only one copy of these records

    Nothing the govt has is not digitized these days.   The unique stuff is likely souvenirs (menus, napkins, personal notes,…).

    There is a theory that Trump declassified and took “blackmail” material as a disincentive for the deep state to arrange an unfortunate accident.  That seems like a big boy move for a guy that has probably been blackmailed many times.

    • #9
  10. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    • #10
  11. Fritz Coolidge
    Fritz
    @Fritz

    DonG (CAGW is a Scam) (View Comment):

    Richard Easton: improbable that Trump would have only one copy of these records

    Nothing the govt has is not digitized these days. The unique stuff is likely souvenirs (menus, napkins, personal notes,…).

    There is a theory that Trump declassified and took “blackmail” material as a disincentive for the deep state to arrange an unfortunate accident. That seems like a big boy move for a guy that has probably been blackmailed many times.

    The raid IMO was just one of the “six ways from Sunday” that Schumer said the IC has to strike back at any politician they want to intimidate, except they are now emboldened to go after the immediate past President and likely future candidate. If they can conjure up something by way of an indictment or more to keep hm off the 2024 ticket, so much the better for them, the worse for USA.

    • #11
  12. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    Trump just filed suit against HRC and some FBI types. Maybe they’re just trying to deprive him of the documents which will mysteriously disappear.

    And do it in as punitive and public a way as possible.  Win/ win/ win.

    • #12
  13. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    You have to ask?  Just one more step in destroying President Donald Trump, his family, and anyone close to him or his businesses.  And way too many Republicans are complicit.

    • #13
  14. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    Latest at TGP: 

    President Trump on Friday said he will be filing a “major motion” soon in response to the “illegal” FBI raid of his Florida residence.

    “A major motion pertaining to the Fourth Amendment will soon be filed concerning the illegal Break-In of my home, Mar-a-Lago, right before the ever important Mid-Term Elections. “My rights, together with the rights of all Americans, have been violated at a level rarely seen before in our Country. Remember, they even spied on my campaign. The greatest Witch Hunt in USA history has been going on for six years, with no consequences to the scammers. It should not be allowed to continue!” – Trump posted to his Truth Social page.

    . . .

    The DOJ already harassed and subpoenaed for Mar-a-Lago records in June. The Trump team voluntarily handed over the documents.

    The FBI holds a June inventory receipt.

    Investigative journalist Paul Sperry notes that if the FBI did not include these earlier documents or references from their August affidavit they committed fraud on the court.

    So, what’s in the affidavit?

     

    • #14
  15. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    I just read a piece by Andrew McCarthy in National Review in which he claims that all documents Trump had in his possession are considered property of the Federal Gubmint, no matter if they are de-classified or not, and that the FBI raid was launched simply to get them back.   He also claims that Trump either stonewalled or simply didn’t comply with earlier requests to give back the documents, thus justifying this raid.   This is almost a complete reversal of his previous articles on the raid in which he was suspicious of government actions and purported reasons.

    I know McCarthy is very knowledgeable about prosecutorial affairs and often has great insights into the FBI and the Department of Justice, but sometimes he seems to bumble into  totally questionable conclusions, for instance he was  convinced that Derek Chauvin was solely responsible for the killing of George Floyd.

    In this case, my immediate thought was “If the Gubmint was just coming to get papers that were rightfully theirs and Trump had refused to hand them over, why didn’t they just announce that instead of clamming up for several days.”  It would have been the perfect justification and would have been irrefutable if it were true.  Did anybody else read that article and have an opinion?

    • #15
  16. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    I just read a piece by Andrew McCarthy in National Review in which he claims that all documents Trump had in his possession are considered property of the Federal Gubmint, no matter if they are de-classified or not, and that the FBI raid was launched simply to get them back. He also claims that Trump either stonewalled or simply didn’t comply with earlier requests to give back the documents, thus justifying this raid. This is almost a complete reversal of his previous articles on the raid in which he was suspicious of government actions and purported reasons.

    I know McCarthy is very knowledgeable about prosecutorial affairs and often has great insights into the FBI and the Department of Justice, but sometimes he seems to bumble into totally questionable conclusions, for instance he was convinced that Derek Chauvin was solely responsible for the killing of George Floyd.

    In this case, my immediate thought was “If the Gubmint was just coming to get papers that were rightfully theirs and Trump had refused to hand them over, why didn’t they just announce that instead of clamming up for several days.” It would have been the perfect justification and would have been irrefutable if it were true. Did anybody else read that article and have an opinion?

    Andy McCarthy has a bad habit of sliding back into believing everyone at the FBI/DOJ/etc are rock-ribbed patriots and never do anything untoward.  And then he’s “shocked” again each time they do.

    • #16
  17. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    I just read a piece by Andrew McCarthy in National Review in which he claims that all documents Trump had in his possession are considered property of the Federal Gubmint, no matter if they are de-classified or not, and that the FBI raid was launched simply to get them back. He also claims that Trump either stonewalled or simply didn’t comply with earlier requests to give back the documents, thus justifying this raid. This is almost a complete reversal of his previous articles on the raid in which he was suspicious of government actions and purported reasons.

    I know McCarthy is very knowledgeable about prosecutorial affairs and often has great insights into the FBI and the Department of Justice, but sometimes he seems to bumble into totally questionable conclusions, for instance he was convinced that Derek Chauvin was solely responsible for the killing of George Floyd.

    In this case, my immediate thought was “If the Gubmint was just coming to get papers that were rightfully theirs and Trump had refused to hand them over, why didn’t they just announce that instead of clamming up for several days.” It would have been the perfect justification and would have been irrefutable if it were true. Did anybody else read that article and have an opinion?

    Andy McCarthy has a bad habit of sliding back into believing everyone at the FBI/DOJ/etc are rock-ribbed patriots and never do anything untoward. And then he’s “shocked” again each time they do.

    Agreed!  He’s always had a naive streak when it came to corruption in the FBI and Department of Just A$$.

    • #17
  18. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    The permanent bureaucracy never pays the price – and the DC media who covers them will give them a pass. See Lois Lerner, all of Steele Dossier hacks at the FBI … 

    • #18
  19. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    They’re throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks, and their media minions are happily pretending this is all just fine.

     

    Trump’s new lawyer, James Trusty, said that last night on Mark Levin. It was a really good interview. He has really good criticism of every dimension of this thing. Third hour, 20 minutes in.

    • #19
  20. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    I agree with Andy McCarthy – it’s a fishing expedition 

    • #20
  21. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    I agree with Andy McCarthy – it’s a fishing expedition

    Apparently 3 days after his appearance on The Ricochet Podcast, he’s changed his mind/tune again.

    • #21
  22. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    I just read a piece by Andrew McCarthy in National Review in which he claims that all documents Trump had in his possession are considered property of the Federal Gubmint, no matter if they are de-classified or not, and that the FBI raid was launched simply to get them back. He also claims that Trump either stonewalled or simply didn’t comply with earlier requests to give back the documents, thus justifying this raid. This is almost a complete reversal of his previous articles on the raid in which he was suspicious of government actions and purported reasons.

    I know McCarthy is very knowledgeable about prosecutorial affairs and often has great insights into the FBI and the Department of Justice, but sometimes he seems to bumble into totally questionable conclusions, for instance he was convinced that Derek Chauvin was solely responsible for the killing of George Floyd.

    In this case, my immediate thought was “If the Gubmint was just coming to get papers that were rightfully theirs and Trump had refused to hand them over, why didn’t they just announce that instead of clamming up for several days.” It would have been the perfect justification and would have been irrefutable if it were true. Did anybody else read that article and have an opinion?

    Since I don’t have a National Review subscription I could not read the piece by Mr. McCarthy, but a claim that the government was merely retrieving all the papers in Mr. Trump’s possession because all those papers are the property of the government makes no sense. Every other former president has mountains of papers from their presidency in their possession (duh – presidential libraries?). Disagreements between former presidents and the government over which papers are appropriate to be in the possession of former presidents are not uncommon, but are the subject of negotiations between lawyers and occasionally a court hearing. Escalating the dispute by claiming criminal conduct justifying a raid on a private residence is a big deal.

    • #22
  23. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Will Cain on fox and friends just talked about this. I think one of his general points is, they are trying to interfere with any legal offense or defense Trump is going to pursue. They can raise a lot of hell even if all they do is just look at it and return it. You know they ran it through copying machines already.

    • #23
  24. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Attorney General Garland knew or should have known that getting and using a search warrant on the home of a former president was an unprecedented move. As in literally never done in the history of the United States.

    Mr. Garland knew or should have known that therefore getting and using a search warrant on the home of a former president would generate a lot of public interest.

    Mr. Garland was in 2016 nominated for a position on the United States Supreme Court, being presented to the American public as an eminently smart and rational person. Hence it is reasonable to expect that he should have known a lot.

    Mr. Garland knew or should have known that a large portion of the public has suspicions about the motivations of some government agencies, particularly with respect to their behavior toward Mr. Trump. He might think those members of the public are grossly mistaken, but he had to know the suspicions were there.

    Mr. Garland knew or should have known that much of the American public would not accept “normal procedures” as an explanation of an unprecedented move of such high public interest as getting an using a search warrant on the home of a former president. Nor would they accept only the limited information that might come from the court itself, constrained as the court is by procedural details. 

    Mr. Garland knew or should have known that without a clear, detailed, and well documented explanation for the unprecedented move of getting and using a search warrant on the home of a former president a large portion of the public would become suspicious of the motivations behind that unprecedented move.

    That Mr. Garland did not provide a clear, detailed, and well documented explanation for the unprecedented move of getting and using a search warrant on the home of a former president can be attributed either to Mr. Garland not knowing any of the above (stupidity or ignorance), or to a desire to hide from the American public his motivations for undertaking the unprecedented move of getting and using a search warrant on the home of a former president (malicious intent).

    I know we’re generally not supposed to ascribe to malicious intent that which can be explained by stupidity or ignorance, but in this case I find stupidity or ignorance too hard to believe. That what limited explanations the Department of Justice  has offered keep changing does not help alleviate the suspicions about intent. 

    • #24
  25. MWD B612 "Dawg" Member
    MWD B612 "Dawg"
    @danok1

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):
    Attorney General Garland knew or should have known that getting and using a search warrant on the home of a former president was an unprecedented move. As in literally never done in the history of the United States.

    Which is why there ought be an probable cause of an extremely serious crime behind the warrant. Keeping government documents and souvenirs, etc.? That ain’t it, chief. Nor is an attempt to show DJT “incited” the 1/6 riot. It has to be something on the level of, say, iron-clad proof Trump was sending nuclear material to Iran.

    • #25
  26. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    MWD B612 "Dawg" (View Comment):

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):
    Attorney General Garland knew or should have known that getting and using a search warrant on the home of a former president was an unprecedented move. As in literally never done in the history of the United States.

    Which is why there ought be an probable cause of an extremely serious crime behind the warrant. Keeping government documents and souvenirs, etc.? That ain’t it, chief. Nor is an attempt to show DJT “incited” the 1/6 riot. It has to be something on the level of, say, iron-clad proof Trump was sending nuclear material to Iran.

    This is one of the things where they are behind the eight ball. You can’t use a search warrant for an argument with the archive people. It has to be a potential crime. 

    Then after that, the damn thing is obviously a general warrant which violates the Constitution. James Trusty was saying that the way the warrant was written, it legally could have been over in 10 minutes. That’s how much license they had to grab stuff.

    The stupid, corrupt judge didn’t even control for a special master etc., which is an obvious problem here.

     

    • #26
  27. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    They will attempt to steal the election again and don’t know who their candidate will be but know that Trump voters are many and will vote, so they’re trying to damage him and couldn’t wait much longer.  This is all  to justify the theft as they know they’ll have to stuff well over 10% of the vote.   I didn’t think Trump would be our candidate as Biden won’t but I’d never try to predict Trump.  I would vote for any Republican and would not vote for any Democrat.    The Democrats are unknowingly destroying the country and there is no coming back, probably even if China and Soros were not the biggest players on their side.   Everyone else seems to be stupid, uninformed, un curious fools who don’t care enough to pay attention.      Democrats  all lack historical knowledge and few have any grasp of the rest of the world.

    • #27
  28. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Richard Easton: Some have suggested, including a Newsweek reporter, that they were looking for Russiagate documents, including Crossfire Hurricane ones. But it seems improbable that Trump would have only one copy of these records. Wouldn’t copies and scanned versions have been made of anything related to Russiagate? What think ye?

    This makes a lot of sense . . .

    • #28
  29. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):
    I know we’re generally not supposed to ascribe to malicious intent that which can be explained by stupidity or ignorance, but in this case I find stupidity or ignorance too hard to believe. That what limited explanations the Department of Justice  has offered keep changing does not help alleviate the suspicions about intent. 

    Garland’s revenge for losing out on his SCOTUS seat? I could believe he’s a petty, vindictive man intentionally put in a position to enact his revenge by a whole party of petty, vindictive men (and women). Who better to sic on the hated Donald Trump?

    • #29
  30. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    I just read a piece by Andrew McCarthy in National Review in which he claims that all documents Trump had in his possession are considered property of the Federal Gubmint, no matter if they are de-classified or not, and that the FBI raid was launched simply to get them back. He also claims that Trump either stonewalled or simply didn’t comply with earlier requests to give back the documents, thus justifying this raid. This is almost a complete reversal of his previous articles on the raid in which he was suspicious of government actions and purported reasons.

    Props to whoever it was who called it. 

    • #30
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