Associated Press
The FBI searched former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as part of an investigation into whether he took classified records from the White House to his Florida residence.
Trump disclosed the action in a lengthy statement, asserting that agents had broken into his safe in a search he decried as evidence of “dark times for our nation.”
Florida Politics first reported the raid Monday evening on Twitter.
The search, which the FBI and Justice Department did not immediately confirm, marks a dramatic escalation in law enforcement scrutiny of Trump and comes amid a separate but intensifying probe into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The search also intensifies the months-long probe into how classified documents ended up in boxes of White House records located at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year. It occurs amid a separate grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and adds to the potential legal peril for Trump as he lays the groundwork for another run.
Trump and his allies immediately sought to cast the search as part of a Democratic-driven effort to keep him from winning another term in 2024, even though the Biden White House said it had no prior knowledge of it and the current FBI director, Christopher Wray, was appointed by Trump five years ago and served as a high-ranking official in a Republican-led Justice Department.
“After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” Trump said in his statement.
He added: “These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents. Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before.”
Justice Department spokesperson Dena Iverson declined to comment on the search, including about whether Attorney General Merrick Garland had personally authorized the search.
Trump did not elaborate on the basis for the search, but the Justice Department has been investigating the potential mishandling of classified information after the National Archives and Records Administration said it had retrieved from Mar-a-Lago 15 boxes of records containing classified information earlier this year.
The National Archives referred the matter to the Justice Department. Trump has previously maintained that presidential records were turned over “in an ordinary and routine process.”
There are multiple federal laws governing the handling of classified records and sensitive government documents, including statutes that make it a crime to remove such material and retain it at an unauthorized location.
Two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said the search happened earlier Monday and confirmed that agents were also looking to see if Trump had additional presidential records or any classified documents at the estate.
Two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said the search happened earlier Monday and was related to the records probe. Agents were also looking to see if Trump had additional presidential records or any classified documents at the estate.
Trump has previously maintained that presidential records were turned over “in an ordinary and routine process.” His son Eric said on Fox News on Monday night that he had spent the day with his father and that the search happened because “the National Archives wanted to corroborate whether or not Donald Trump had any documents in his possession.”
Asked how the documents ended up at Mar-a-Lago, Eric Trump said the boxes were among items that got moved out of the White House during “six hours” on Inauguration Day, as the Bidens prepared to move into the building.
“My father always kept press clippings,” Eric Trump said. “He had boxes, when he moved out of the White House.”
Though a search warrant does not suggest that criminal charges are near or even expected, federal officials looking to obtain one must first demonstrate to a judge that they have probable cause that a crime occurred.
In his first public remarks since news of the search surfaced, Trump made no mention of it Monday evening during a tele-town hall on behalf of Leora Levy, the Connecticut Republican he has endorsed in Tuesday’s U.S. Senate primary to pick a general election opponent against Democratic U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Trump gave his public backing to Levy late last week, calling her on Monday the best pick “to replace Connecticut’s joke of a senator.”
But in a social media post Monday night, he was much more unguarded, calling the search a “weaponization of the Justice System, and attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024.”
During the 2016 presidential election, Trump sought to exploit an FBI investigation into his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, over whether she mishandled classified information through a private email server she used as Secretary of State. Then-FBI Director James Comey concluded that Clinton had sent and received classified information but the FBI did not recommend criminal charges because it determined that Clinton had not intended to break the law.
Trump lambasted that decision and then stepped up its criticism of the FBI as agents began investigating whether his campaign had colluded with Russia to tip the 2016 election. He fired Comey during that probe, and though he appointed Wray months later, he routinely criticized him too while he was still president.
The probe is hardly the only legal headache confronting Trump. A separate investigation related to efforts by Trump and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election — which led to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol — has also been intensifying in Washington.
And a district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, is investigating whether Trump and his close associates sought to interfere in that state’s election, which was won by Democrat Joe Biden.
35 comments
Dan
August 8, 2022 at 7:59 pm
America = Banana Republic.
This is what happens in 3rd world dictatorships.
Elliott Offen
August 8, 2022 at 9:49 pm
Trump’s behavior and resulting riot to disrupt free and fair electoral process was banana republic. Nice try though 👍
VJP
August 8, 2022 at 10:49 pm
It’s very sad to see criminals within our own government. Who can even trust neighbors anymore?
Santi
August 11, 2022 at 6:37 pm
No, it isn’t. This is what happens when a career criminal like Trump thinks he’s above the law. The “law and order“ leader until he’s their focus. The “law and order“ leader who thinks Jan 6 was about hugs and kisses. What a loser.
Miami Tony
August 8, 2022 at 8:01 pm
Ultimately Donald Trump will make Richard Nixon look like Mayor McCheese by comparison in terms of corruption, criminality and out and out stupidity.
tom palmer
August 8, 2022 at 8:05 pm
I’m willing to withhold judgment on this raid until I know more. Right now we don’t know anything really..
Impeach Biden
August 8, 2022 at 8:18 pm
The Democrats are the modern day Hitler youth led my the brain dead Biden. Who is the Wizard of Oz? Who is the one behind the curtain calling for this?
Joe Corsin
August 8, 2022 at 9:15 pm
As usual.. conspiracy theories and outrage when faced with the fact that Trump is a crook. Why don’t you go out and riot for the SOB? Maybe you’ll be put in the same cell one day! Cheers!!
Don’t Look Up
August 9, 2022 at 12:23 am
The FBI director (Wray) who staged this necessary search warrant is a Trump appointee. If you don’t like Trumpster Clowns to pay for their criminal behavior…. you might want to move to another country. Somalia hasn’t had a viable government in some time…. you might take up residence their. No one will miss you.
Impeach Biden
August 8, 2022 at 8:34 pm
When is the FBI going to raid Hunter Biden’s house? How about Hillary Clinton’s house? How about the Biden crime family as a whole? A bunch of idiots that are now multi millionaires. This is now the “People’s Republic of Amerika”. A total embarrassment.
Joe Corsin
August 8, 2022 at 9:18 pm
Hunter Biden didn’t try to steal an election, get a bunch of people locked up, brainwash people with 40,000 lies, steal classified documents etc etc. What are you a pro crime sociopath???
Impeach Biden
August 8, 2022 at 9:22 pm
Hillary had classified information in her private residence. Where was the raid? Shut up Corsin / Offen.
Joe Corsin
August 8, 2022 at 9:33 pm
Just because you say so doesn’t make it so…and as always it’s “but Hillary, but Hunter, but Soros, but gas prices.” Anything and everything but the ORANGE CROOK.. ELECTION THIEF…LIAR..CON ARTIST.. CHAOS MANUFACTURER…FAR RIGHT NUT!!
J S
August 9, 2022 at 11:38 am
Hillary was not the President of the United states. Try again.
VJP
August 8, 2022 at 10:51 pm
Hey, if he’s innocent, then he has nothing to worry about.
Earl Pitts American
August 8, 2022 at 8:37 pm
Good Evening America,
All we really know are two things:
1). that the Weasels in the FBI leadership have been flaming leftists and corrupt at least since Jim Comey was appointed.
2). that Garland has always been a butt hurt flaming leftist all his life and an extreem butt hurt flaming leftist since the rug was snatched out from under his SCOTUS nomination.
Hmmmm…other than that we really dont know anything.
Thank You America,
Earl Pitts American
Juandigo
August 8, 2022 at 10:54 pm
Hey Earl, your schtick was old and tired 20 years ago. FBI Director was Trump’s appointment from 2017, try again!
Bernie Sanders
August 8, 2022 at 10:57 pm
False information. You don’t know your balls from your azzhole🍩
Yevgeny Prigozhin
August 9, 2022 at 10:37 am
Dmitriy, isn’t it past your bedtime at Glavset? Or, are you still being a late night goluboi and akrobat?
Funny how you can always spot trolls from Olgino, they are the ones who greet with “Good Evening America” and create names like Earl Pitts American…just to make sure you think they are American.
Impeach Biden
August 8, 2022 at 9:15 pm
This is a prelude of what the 87,000 Hitler Youth (IRS) will be doing under the Biden administration.
Joe Corsin
August 8, 2022 at 9:20 pm
How big of a shill for the rich can you possibly be? What do they do for you besides make your azzhole the size of a trash can lid? Why don’t you have some self respect for Christ sakes? Your brain has been annihilated by right wing rich propaganda. Next stop for you is the plantation!!! Have fun!
Impeach Biden
August 8, 2022 at 9:24 pm
I ask again, where is this plantation located and the slaves you continuously refer to? Just more BS from people that worship the likes of AOC, Omar, Tlaib, Waters, etc.
Joe Corsin
August 8, 2022 at 9:30 pm
Jail is a plantation, low wage workplaces are a plantation, and if you work for people who make a lot more than you do yet you work just as hard or harder…then this is also a plantation. One could even consider the military to be a plantation seeing as the USA is a plutocracy but that is surely debatable. It’s more lucrative and humane than half the workplaces in America.
Impeach Biden
August 8, 2022 at 9:37 pm
You are an idiot. There is no slavery in this country, and no plantations.. You are a drama queen attempting to appeal to the uneducated. No go out and find your sorry ass a job. The Biden IRS youth is watching you.
Diane Strain
August 8, 2022 at 11:07 pm
Corsin, you have been sucked in the far leftist lies. Go to bed and keep dreaming of what you THINK IS WRONG WITH TRUMP……TO CLUE YOU IN, YOU HAVE NO CLUE! TRUMP WAS THE BEST MAN TO BE PRESIDENT OF OUR COUNTRY. SINCE JOE & HIS MINIONS TOOK OVER, THEY HAVE SCREWED UP BIG TIME! YOU AND THE JOE ADMINISTRATION WILL DO ANYTHING TO STOP TRUMP FROM WINNING, WHICH, BY THE WAY…….HE DID WIN! (THE CHEATING THAT WENT ON IS CRIMINAL!!!!!!!) GO BED CORSIN. DO YOU REALLY THINK ANYONE LOOKS “UP” TO YOU FOR THE TRUTH? Get off you high horse. Do you think anyone is truly impressed by you? (You probably do, as you’re clearly showing your Narcissistic behavior.) Let’s look at the low life’s that should have had their homes raided (the Clintons, The Bidens….ALL OF THEM, Pelosi and the list goes on.)
Yevgeny Prigozhin
August 8, 2022 at 10:36 pm
Joe, you’re arguing with Sergie “Impeach Biden” of Glavset. He’s a troll from Olgino. Internet Research Agency. He’s not real…he’s really just a Putin Troll working for $150 USD per month.
Joe Corsin
August 8, 2022 at 11:01 pm
That and he’s telling people they should get a job when it’s him whose been on here all day. Suffice to say he’s not rich like daddy Trump. His idol. Kinda guy who wouldn’t pizz on him if he was on fire🔥
Jerry
August 9, 2022 at 1:32 am
Why are Democrats inflating the IRS by 87,000 agents? Why won’t you answer that question? You think they are going after the rich? You are blind! Democrats did not close a single tax loophole used by the rich. But they are going to raise taxes for the middle class. And they will now send the IRS to audit hard-working class Americans.
You liberals are sick!
Elliott Offen
August 8, 2022 at 9:25 pm
As usual we will hear blaming others for Trump’s crookery…and Trump will be throwing a fit online so that people will get pissed and rescue him from his criminal schemes. Trump tries to use his stupid supporters as human shields for abominable grifting and crime. Yeah just gonna get a bunch of people locked up like J6. Trump is a bad news bear…. idiot magnet.
PeterH
August 8, 2022 at 9:48 pm
We knew this would proceed a criminal indictment. Garland is careful and methodical.
Let’s remember….. Florida has been and always will be a sunny place for shady people…..Hair Trump is just one of many.
Jerry
August 9, 2022 at 1:38 am
Garland is going to be impeached in a few months.
Joe Corsin
August 9, 2022 at 7:42 am
You’d have to impeach the judge who reviewed the evidence and decided to authorize the raid. If there was no evidence of wrongdoing then the raid would have never taken place. Quit standing up for crooks dude. Quit being pro crime.
Ron DeSantis Sucks
August 8, 2022 at 9:59 pm
All I know is that I can’t wait to see Tom’s spicy take! I’m sue he’ll have a reasoned perspective.
Ghm
August 8, 2022 at 11:28 pm
Don’t think for a moment that Ron DeSantis is unhappy about this. He creamed in his pants when he heard the news!
Dave
August 9, 2022 at 8:19 am
Trumpism is a criminal ideology… evidenced by some of the anti law and order, anti rule of law, pro crime comments being posted here.
Comments are closed.