FBI searches former president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate

Originally Posted by Damien

But it's a massive leap because all this is known. We know the FBI requested it and we know another judge verified it. Where is the proof Biden ordered it? He can't actually do that which means there would also have to be a conspiracy involving a Trump-appointed judge and FBI Director.

What if Trump did have classified files anyway, then all this speculation on who ordered it is pointless.

I did not say anywhere that he had ordered it himself, I said he must have been aware of it, big difference in meaning Damien, don't invent stuff I never said.

Trump is a former President, he still has Clearance to view and access classified material, as does former Presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and the longest surviving president ever, after leaving office, Jimmy Carter.

Seems a lot of fuss.

They had a reason to search, good enough to convince a judge, a warrent was granted, the search was done.

Pretty sure thats probably an occurrance most days, in most states. Presidents are not above the law, afaik.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Mick

I did not say anywhere that he had ordered it himself, I said he must have been aware of it, big difference in meaning Damien, don't invent stuff I never said.

Trump is a former President, he still has Clearance to view and access classified material, as does former Presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and the longest surviving president ever, after leaving office, Jimmy Carter.

Didn't Biden say Donny wasn't going to recieve such privileges due to his erratic behaviour, maybe that was just intelligence briefings

[ianch99]

Originally Posted by Paul

Seems a lot of fuss.

They had a reason to search, good enough to convince a judge, a warrent was granted, the search was done.

Pretty sure thats probably an occurrance most days, in most states. Presidents are not above the law, afaik.

Voice of reason. Trump appointed FBI director authorises warrant that (independent) judge approves based on merit. Where's the problem?

Let's face it, it is not as if the guy has no prior? He incited the 6th Jan attempted insurrection. After all, they got Al Capone on tax charges.

If you want to see the Fox News video supporting this: https://twitter.com/i/status/1557141679802548227

Originally Posted by ianch99

Voice of reason. Trump appointed FBI director authorises warrant that (independent) judge approves based on merit. Where's the problem?

Let's face it, it is not as if the guy has no prior? He incited the 6th Jan attempted insurrection. After all, they got Al Capone on tax charges.

If you want to see the Fox News video supporting this: https://twitter.com/i/status/1557141679802548227

Has prior what, criminality?

That is a wrong term to use, he has no prior criminality.

He’s never been charged with a crime (yet) despite all of the Democrat sponsored investigations, so he can only have prior if he had ever been convicted, which he hasn’t as of yet.

The justice department needs to release what they know, what this raid was for. Trump has already stated he was cooperating with NARA.

More details on the purpose of the search: https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...mp-mar-a-lago/

Classified documents relating to nuclear weapons were among the items FBI agents sought in a search of former president Donald Trump’s Florida residence on Monday, according to people familiar with the investigation.

Experts in classified information said the unusual search underscores deep concern among government officials about the types of information they thought could be located at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club and potentially in danger of falling into the wrong hands.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Damien

More details on the purpose of the search: https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...mp-mar-a-lago/

He was arrogant in not giving the documents back when requested.

Sadly, one person is dead as a likely reaction to this situation - he tried to breach the FBI building in Ohio and was shot.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62514752

---------- Post added at 11:23 ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 ----------

Originally Posted by Mick

Trump is a former President, he still has Clearance to view and access classified material, as does former Presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and the longest surviving president ever, after leaving office, Jimmy Carter.

I don't think anyone is disputing Trump's access to classified material. But by law Trump can't keep hold of it. It definitely represents a security risk keeping classified materials on private property.

I hope nothing of importance is found as it will divide the US even more than it already is. In that instance, the only side who benefits will be the West's enemies.

[papa smurf]

So it takes 18 months before anyone looks for top secret documents that went missing, these documents must be really sensitive to warrant such a fast response.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

So it takes 18 months before anyone looks for top secret documents that went missing, these documents must be really sensitive to warrant such a fast response.

He's had his lawyers on the case I believe.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

He's had his lawyers on the case I believe.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...mp-mar-a-lago/

The investigation into the improper handling of documents began months ago, when the National Archives and Records Administration sought the return of material taken to Mar-a-Lago from the White House. Fifteen boxes of documents and items, some of them marked classified, were returned early this year. The archives subsequently asked the Justice Department to investigate.

This spring, Trump’s team received a grand jury subpoena in connection with the documents investigations, two people familiar with the investigation, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details, confirmed to The Post on Thursday. Investigators visited Mar-a-Lago in the weeks following the issuance of the subpoena, and Trump’s team handed over some materials. The subpoena was first reported by Just the News, a conservative media outlet run by John Solomon, one of Trump’s recently designated representatives to the National Archives.

People familiar with the probe have said it is focused on whether the former president or his aides withheld classified or other government material that should have been returned to government custody earlier. The people, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation, said that as authorities engaged in months of discussions on the subject, some officials came to suspect the Trump team was not being truthful.

---------- Post added at 12:23 ---------- Previous post was at 12:16 ----------

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

He was arrogant in not giving the documents back when requested.

Sadly, one person is dead as a likely reaction to this situation - he tried to breach the FBI building in Ohio and was shot.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62514752

---------- Post added at 11:23 ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 ----------


I don't think anyone is disputing Trump's access to classified material. But by law Trump can't keep hold of it. It definitely represents a security risk keeping classified materials on private property.

I hope nothing of importance is found as it will divide the US even more than it already is. In that instance, the only side who benefits will be the West's enemies.

Former Presidents can be allowed access to classified material as a courtesy, if the current President deems it appropriate, to consult with them for their input/feedback on matters - what they can't do is decide to keep Top Secret/SCI info for themselves; once they leave the Office, they no longer have clearance to access this type of information (unless, as stated above, it is granted by the current President).

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Former Presidents can be allowed access to classified material as a courtesy, if the current President deems it appropriate, to consult with them for their input/feedback on matters - what they can't do is decide to keep Top Secret/SCI info for themselves; once they leave the Office, they no longer have clearance to access this type of information (unless, as stated above, it is granted by the current President).

Which Biden explicitly said donny wasn't getting because of his erratic behaviour

Weird one but Fox News is running a photo of the judge who approved the request sitting in a private plane with Ghislaine Maxwell. It's a fake photo: https://twitter.com/mbaram/status/15...314754/photo/1 and not even a very good photoshop but if Fox News are doing this there will be a lot of people who'll believe it.

You also have to wonder if Fox News will go this far, just literally publishing fake photos, what else they would do.

https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-t...ayroll-1733230

In the aftermath of the search, the Trump camp insists that President Trump had the right to declassify information, and thus none of the records were classified. Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist who served in intelligence and defense positions in the administration (and who also identifies himself as one of Donald Trump's representatives to the National Archives), told the Just The News podcast that Trump was the "ultimate arbiter" of the classification of a document and thus there could be no wrongdoing.

That characterization is incorrect, experts say, because documents that are covered by statute, and not classified under presidential executive order, cannot be classified or declassified by the president. That includes nuclear secrets (under the Atomic Energy Act) and documents that might identify CIA case officers or agents (under the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982). The Washington Post has reported that the documents sought at Mar-a-Lago related to nuclear weapons.

[Dave42]

Donald Trump being investigated under Espionage Act, with 'top secret' documents taken from his Florida home
Among the boxes removed were 11 sets of classified documents, with some relating to defence information. A handwritten note and a binder of photos were also taken.

https://news.sky.com/story/donald-tr...-home-12671607

Search Warrant & Property Receipt.

https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploa...54.17.0_12.pdf

Items seized