Marco Rubio downplays ‘storage argument’ between feds, Donald Trump

Rubio veterans
The Senator also thinks DOJ is leaking details of the case.

Marco Rubio is still diminishing the reason the FBI searched Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago last months, and claims the federal government is leaking details of the former President’s case

In comments Sunday to NBC 6, Rubio dismissed the issue with Trump as little more than a “storage argument” about documents with the FBI.

“This is really at its core a storage argument that they’re making. They’re arguing there are documents there, they don’t deny that he should have access to those documents…. I don’t think a fight over storage of documents is worthy of what they’ve done, which is full scale raid and then these constant leaks. That’s the second problem. It’s the PR behind all this,” the Senator said.

Rubio also contended that the Justice Department is spilling details of the investigation for its own benefit.

““There’s no doubt (the leaks are) from the Justice Department. The articles say, ‘Officials in the Justice Department are saying this and that.’ Generally when the federal government is investigating someone they won’t even acknowledge it’s there is an investigation. They won’t even talk about it. They’re actually leaking information that may or may not be true, they’re putting out pictures, making it look like there are all these papers thrown around, classified information,” Rubio contended.

Rubio’s comments come in the wake of reporting that Trump kept over 10,000 documents and had dozens of empty folders, including 43 marked “classified.” Documents allegedly were found throughout Trump’s residence, a semi-private club setting where insecure documents related to national security were especially vulnerable.

The comments Sunday suggest that Rubio continues to see the Trump action as a potent political issue for Republicans this fall.

He had previously suggested that the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago meant that the feds see all Republicans as “potential insurrectionists.”

“The next step in this process is going to be that people who are supporters of Donald Trump or just conservatives complaining about this are going to begin to get harassed, are going to begin to get labeled as potential insurrectionists and are going to begin to get harassed by law enforcement. That’s the next step in this playbook, sadly,” Rubio said last month on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program.

Rubio has also contended that the FBI actions were more harmful to American public trust than anything done by America’s enemies.

“The FBI’s actions, less than three months from the upcoming elections, are doing more to erode public trust in our government institutions, the electoral process, and the rule of law in the U.S. than the Russian Federation or any other foreign adversary,” Rubio wrote FBI Director Christopher Wray in the wake of the search last month.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


33 comments

  • Pastor Sandell

    September 5, 2022 at 7:38 am

    Break free from the iron grip of the orange Satan before it’s too late. Repent and turn away from the sin of Trumpian neo naziism or you will burn it wretched hell for eternity. The Bible says that it is more likely a camel would fit through the eye of a needle than a rich man enter the kingdom of heaven. Trump is that rich man, and you will not enter the kingdom of heaven if you bow down to that abominable monger, liar, and charlatan.

    • MAGA Forever!!!

      September 5, 2022 at 7:51 am

      How dare you!! Blasphemy against our TRUE PRESIDENT!!! The way and the light! The one true path to salvation for our country is to follow HIM (TRUMP) as he is good and right in all things. He is persecuted as Jesus was by the evil heathen Demoncrats.

      Turn away from your sins and pledge allegiance to HIM (TRUMP) if you want to know true salvation.

      • Pastor Sandell

        September 5, 2022 at 9:32 am

        Trump is of Satan. Lots of money, lots of women, lots of lies, lots of crimes. Also claims to be religious but is not.

    • Hope

      September 5, 2022 at 8:31 am

      I think they should quit using the FBI and Justice Department to stir up nonsense to cover for Hunters treason. Hunter and Joe’s treason are the real issues here. He will be impeached at the very least. Two more months to go and there will be investigations like you’ve never seen before against all the people who have misused their positions.

      Marco Rubio will win easily for re-election so I don’t know why the attempt at deflection for this article. Disingenuou

      • Elliott Offen

        September 5, 2022 at 9:48 am

        @Hope: Joe’s treason? Joe tried to claim stolen election in order to try and steal an election? You full of poop btch..

  • MAGA Forever!!!!

    September 5, 2022 at 7:45 am

    Way to go Marco. Protect our amazing TRUE PRESIDENT with every breath. Make sure everyone knows that he is the way and the light of all things. Follow only him to find glory. You keep up the good work and make sure everyone knows that you support him 1000% and that you have his full blessings.

    Also, make sure that everyone knows of the glorious victory over the abortionists that the REPUBLICANS achieved this year and that you will do everything in your power to expand and increase its scope. Up next, going anfter evil birth control which we all know leads to fornication and more abortions.

    Finally make sure that they are clear on your forward thinking plans to slash Medicare and Social Security for the good of our glorious country. These wasteful program are just too expensive and seniors will be happy to tighten their belts to support you and the TRUE PRESIDENT!!!

    • Joe Corsin

      September 5, 2022 at 9:48 am

      Quit spamming you clown…

  • MAGA Forever!!!

    September 5, 2022 at 8:14 am

    It’s time to push harder. Tell the governor you want him to act NOW to stop all abortion. He’s not doing enough!! After the election is not soon enough. Tell him now.

    Make sure every Republican running for office is ON RECORD for their position about abortion. Pressure them to move more quickly and loudly. They must make this a central point of their campaigns. Call them out when their stance is too weak. Call out any who backpedal and talk about exceptions of any kind.

    Then tell them to always support our TRUE PRESIDENT as he battles persecution from the non-believers.

  • Hope

    September 5, 2022 at 8:24 am

    I think they should quit using the FBI and Justice Department to stir up nonsense to cover for Hunters treason. Hunter and Joe’s treason are the real issues here. He will be impeached at the very least. Two more months to go and there will be investigations like you’ve never seen before against all the people who have misused their positions.

    Marco Rubio will win easily for re-election so I don’t know why the attempt at deflection for this article. Disingenuous at the least…

    • Whataboutism is so 2020

      September 5, 2022 at 8:59 am

      Seriously. If Hunter Biden committed crimes, he should be investigated and prosecuted, full stop.

      There is clear evidence that Trump has committed a number of crimes, even outside of fomenting sedition. If the evidence warrants, he should also be investigated and prosecuted.

      The mental gymnastics you people go through to support this con man are just exhausting to watch.

      • Hope

        September 5, 2022 at 9:37 am

        Trump was right!

        If Hunter had been properly investigated instead of covering it up there would be no war in the Ukraine right now. That is the result of Clinton, Obama, and now Biden because of their poor decisions. Add on top of that the treason by Hunter and Joe. Seriously you need to get your head out of the sand and wake up. 10 more weeks and the impeachment for Biden starts. Hunter will be arrested.

        Again, Trump was right!

        • Elliott Offen

          September 5, 2022 at 9:51 am

          @Hope: Trump is a crook..and you imbeciles try and scapegoat Hunter Biden? The man is irrelevant. You are a silly cunt…

    • Jillian Forester

      September 5, 2022 at 9:39 am

      No one cares about Hunter Biden. It’s not like he stole from a kid’s cancer charity or something. Move on, for the love of God.

  • Hope

    September 5, 2022 at 8:41 am

    Please explain why my comments are being held for moderation that are perfectly appropriate when another commenter is saying that I should be raped in hell with the burning coals stuck up my private parts?

    • Pastor Sandell

      September 5, 2022 at 9:26 am

      You comments not being posted are part of the Lord’s vengeance and divine punishment. This is but a drop in the bucket compared to the cruel inhumanities that you will continue to face in this life and the next if you don’t turn from your sin…that sin being the far right menace and the lies that accompany it. This is the spirit of Hitler..the beast.

  • Bill

    September 5, 2022 at 8:55 am

    So let me recap – trump uses hillary’s email server as a cornerstone of his election campaign and after getting into office makes sure congress passes laws so that theft of classified material becomes a felony with harsh jail sentences etc, and everyone merrily chants ‘lock her up’ and life goes on.

    Fast forward to the last days of his presidency and off he goes with boxes of classified materials and after plenty of opportunity to return them without making it a big deal, decides it’s the fault of the DOJ and FBI that he knowingly stole classified information and runs around squawking about how unfairly he’s treated.

    It’s hard to explain that level of rampant stupidity but the sycophant republicans who worship him just keep on trying and they wonder why people vote democrat. Oi.

    • Hope

      September 5, 2022 at 12:23 pm

      Parroting White House talking points.

      MIA Kamala, border crisis, inflation crisis, gasoline price crisis, National Security crisis, supply chain crisis, Insurrection kangaroo court, fentanyl crisis, crime crisis, weaponizing federal agencies for political gain, all impeachable offenses, treason…

      • Bill

        September 5, 2022 at 1:15 pm

        White house talking points? Not really – just the facts as I see them and quite frankly, your ‘bunch of words with no context’ response is pretty sad as well. To quote your hero, “I know words. I have the best words.”

  • Ocean Joe

    September 5, 2022 at 9:29 am

    Maybe some details are being “spilled” because the target went directly to the press while the search was underway, has gone to court to make the document list public, and has ranted about it publicly ever since.
    But give Marco credit:
    When he said “Donald Trump is dangerously unprepared to be president” he was right.

    • Jillian Forester

      September 5, 2022 at 9:44 am

      Garland’s snail’s pace was frustrating at first but the man knows what he is doing. He’s giving Trump enough rope to hang himself. The more Trump speaks, the worse he makes his own situation. Brilliant strategy, actually. Let bits of information come out, let Trump and his bottom of the barrel law team run their mouths and incriminate themselves, makes Garland’s job way easier.

      • Hope

        September 5, 2022 at 9:49 am

        You are wrong! Garland will be going to jail along with the rest of them.

        You can’t weaponize the office you took an oath to serve to cover up treasonous activities. Hunter and Joe committed the crimes and the cover-ups are turning into crimes. It’s illegal and Garland will be going to jail.

        • Joe Corsin

          September 5, 2022 at 9:53 am

          Garland isn’t going to jail. If anyone will be charged..it will be TRUMP. You people are delusional..and full of poop. The DOJ isn’t a weapon. This is all garbage to defend a crook.

        • Elliott Offen

          September 5, 2022 at 9:58 am

          Garland isn’t going to jail you imbecile. Stop using stupid, phoney sht to defend a crook. You people are pathetic.

  • Lynda

    September 5, 2022 at 9:36 am

    The extreme responses from trump’s cult members over a legal search of the Golf Club Mar-a-Lago —where trump lives when the weather in Florida is warm— are foolish. The examples of comments from obviously deluded cult members make for a good laugh on Monday morning. I do hope any comment expressing violent intent is looked into by appropriate law enforcement.

    Law Enforcement at many levels should have paid more attention to social media “chatter” prior to Jan 6, 2021 when MAGA Republicans orchestrated a violent Insurrection against the USA to attempt to return to office the most unfit president in our country’s history. People died. The Capitol Police had nearly 150 officers seriously injured and many are permanently disabled. Those responsible for the conspiracy include former president trump and many members of the House and Senate from the party formerly known as the Republican party.

    Marco Rubio (or as trump calls him “Little Marco”) is again disappointing in his repetition of the acceptable talking points he was given about the appropriate search of pool and kitchen area storage rooms, trump’s office and other easily accessed spaces by foreign and domestic enemies pretending to be staff, guests or contractors for the large Club.

    Why any responsible voter would choose to vote for any candidate endorsed by former president trump is a mystery to those voters who love the USA. Whether he goes to prison or pays huge fines, trump and his co-conspirators must be held accountable for their insults to Democracy and their crude threats of violence as solutions to any disagreements.

    • Hope

      September 5, 2022 at 9:45 am

      War in Ukraine, inflation, crime, taking away parents rights in education, BLM, CRT, Afghanistan withdrawal, high gas prices, 401k tanking, misusing the military, putting the United States in vulnerable positions, treason, cover-ups, weaponizing the military, FBI, Department of Justice for political gain, it goes on and on. Democrats are going to lose and they’re going to lose big so brace for the impeachment.

      • Bill

        September 5, 2022 at 10:01 am

        It’s like the Rashomon principal. I see most of what you just wrote as complete and utter nonsense lacking and nuance whatsoever but in your defence, I watch fox news once and I can see where it comes from. Enjoy your weekend.

    • Hope

      September 5, 2022 at 9:52 am

      No Insurrection! Another Ploy by the Democrats that isn’t working. That incident will be investigated and Nancy Pelosi will be officially named as the perpetrator and dealt with through legal proceedings. Impeachment, treason, misuse of office but to name a few of her crimes.

      • Elliott Offen

        September 5, 2022 at 9:56 am

        Garland isn’t going to jail.
        The DOJ isn’t a weapon.
        These are all lies in order to defend a crook. You people should be ashamed. You are a disgrace to this nation.

  • PeterH

    September 5, 2022 at 12:58 pm

    Marco Rubio’s talking point complaint about the timing of the DOJ search warrant is the ultimate obfuscation! The DOJ quietly attempted to get these documents for over a year. They issued subpoenas and Trump’s lawyers made sworn affidavits that they had tirelessly searched Trump’s office file cabinets and desk drawers and turned up nothing. Trump HAD NO AUTHORITY OR RIGHT TO TAKE OUR GOVERNMENT HIGHLY CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS FROM THE SECURITY OF THE ARCHIVES …. TO ANY UNSECURED LOCATION.
    Senate Republicans had two valid opportunities to remove Trump from office and failed to do so.

    Republicans are America’s problem…. and Republicans need to be removed from office.

  • Bruce Davis

    September 5, 2022 at 7:39 pm

    It is sad that a US Senator with a law degree would make such statements. His political positioning is more important to him than telling the truth to all the Americans who elected him to represent them. So sad!

  • rust never sleeps

    September 6, 2022 at 8:48 am

    Little Marco, you have said many stupid things but now on NBC you have hit a new level of stupidity. YOU are one of the cheerleaders for tearing down respect in our Federal Government. You dare go on national TV and diminish the fact that Tramp absconded with scores of highly classified documents. Records storage? None of the papers belong to Tramp, they belong to the people to be kept in the National Archives, duh. How dare you spin for the grifter who called you “Little Marco” and noted your embarrassing failures to vote in the Senate. Your pathetic retort was to call Tramp “Big Donald.” I just watched that clip again on YouTube and your facial expression was priceless. What a loser, you little wimp with a big mouth. FYYCSMF

  • I am what I am

    September 7, 2022 at 9:28 pm

    And another example of pencil whip the laws to steal.
    And take all our fans money for a new toy yatte

  • Peter Zheutlin

    September 8, 2022 at 3:14 pm

    A storage issue? That’s like calling 9/11 an air traffic control issue. Does Rubio even believe his own BS?

Comments are closed.


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