10 questions about the FBI's search for Mar-a-Lago

The FBI has never raided a former US president’s home.

Mr Trump called the action a “raid” and said Mar-a-Lago was “under siege”, noting that “they even broke into my safe”.

The raid was part of an investigation into the handling of presidential documents, including classified documents, that may have been brought there, three people familiar with the matter told CNN.

The search was linked to the National Archives, according to Trump’s son Eric, who appeared on Fox Monday night.

“The National Archives, as you know, wanted to confirm whether Donald Trump had any documents,” he said.

What do I need to do to obtain a warrant?

From CNN’s Tierney Sneed: “(I) Investigators would have had to show the judge that there was a presumed cause of the crime and that evidence of the crime was at Mar-a-Lago.”

They must have believed there were documents Trump had not turned over earlier, an expert told Snead. Read on for a full explanation of the process.

Who authorized the search?

The FBI is run by Christopher Wray, who was appointed by President Trump. The Justice Department, run by Joe Biden-appointed Merrick Garland, has frustrated many Democrats with its slowness to publicly focus on Trump. Investigators convinced a federal judge that a warrant was needed to search the former president’s home.

“The fact that a federal judge approved it shows they have something out there. I don’t know what it is. Day.” Watch Conway’s interview.

How many current investigations involve Trump?

Highlights from CNN’s news report: The Justice Department is aware of two active investigations involving the former president.

It’s January 6th, not documents, that many Americans most want to indict Trump, especially after seeing the hearings conducted by the House committee investigating the riots this summer.

What do you mean by papers in the toilet?

President Trump disregards record keeping is well known. He was told by staff to hide things, and regularly tore the paper.

Maggie Haberman, New York Times reporter and CNN contributor. A book on Trump has obtained photographs of torn documents believed to have been written in Trump’s thick black ink in the White House restrooms and during his travels abroad. look at them.

Yes, we’ve reached the photo part of the paperwork in the toilets of the Trump Saga. No, the papers in the bathroom don’t seem to have anything to do with his FBI search for Mar-a-Lago.

Why does Trump seem to like this attention?

apart from His potential legal exposure, Trump clearly sees political advantages in all of this. He rakes in his supporters, demands money from them, and claims the government is trying to get him.

Critics of Trump hope that what they finally learn about the FBI investigation will be enough to quash the conspiracy theories already brewing.

Alyssa Farrar-Griffin, former White House communications director under Trump and her critic: “We want Trump to go beyond just handing him the Republican nomination and potentially the presidency.” his former boss.

“If that’s seen as some kind of massive overkill and not something incredibly serious, today is a very good day for Donald Trump. said Tuesday on CNN’s “New Day.”

She claimed he knew how to manipulate the situation to his political advantage, pointing out that he essentially broke the news with a post on his Truth Social account.

How are Republicans reacting to this inquiry?

To show how Republicans view search, see their reaction.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is not a close friend of Trump, declined to comment, but some support the former president’s claim that it is a form of persecution.

Several Republican senators said Garland should resign as attorney general. Others said he could move to impeach him if he gained control of the Senate after the November midterm elections.

“Garland must resign or be impeached. A search warrant must be issued. Senator Josh Hawley of wrote on twitter.

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said the search appeared to be from a less liberal country.

“The FBI raid was unprecedented for America, but it’s familiar to people in Florida fleeing countries where political opposition has been criminalized,” he said. said on Twitter.

How pervasive is this standoff?

CNN’s Holmes Lyebrand and Marshall Cohen have been tracking progress since they first learned of Trump’s confrontation with the National Archives and Records Administration.Mar-a-Lago.

Here’s the general timeline they put together:

May 2021: NARA Contacts Trump Team Regarding important documents that were not handed over before he left the office.
Fall 2021: Frustrated by the slow turnover of documents, NARA contacts another Trump attorney.
January 2022: NARA recovers 15 boxes of documents From Mar-a-Lago, in a pre-arranged deal with the Trump team.
January 31, 2022: NARA said of some of the recovered White House documents, “Torn apart by former President Trump.”
February 9, 2022: the press reports it NARA urged DOJ to investigate Trump’s handling of the White House records.
February 18, 2022: Nara says SECRET RECORDS FOUND In a document obtained from Mar-a-Lago.
April and May 2022: The FBI interviews Trump’s aide in Mar-a-Lago as part of an investigation into mishandling of documents.
May 12, 2022: the press reports it Federal Agents Submit Subpoena to NARA Access to classified documents brought to Mar-a-Lago.
June 3, 2022: FBI agents visit Mar-a-Lago and briefly meet with Trump to meet with Trump’s attorneys and see where the documents are kept.
June 8, 2022: The FBI informs Trump’s attorneys that they need to secure more rooms where documents are kept. They will add a padlock later.
August 8, 2022: The FBI will execute a search warrant in Mar-a-Lago as part of its documentary investigation. Agent removes the box from the property.

Didn’t Trump supporters say ‘lock her up’ about Hillary Clinton and confidential information?

As the 2016 nominee, Trump made Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified data during her time as Secretary of State one of his major election issues.

Trump supporters ‘lock her up’ at his rally after FBI finds careless handling of sensitive data on personal email server system suggesting she broke the law led the chant.

Trump is currently under investigation by the FBI for handling classified data.

What could Trump face legally?

we don’t know completely. He has not been charged with any crime. CNN’s Caitlin Polanz and Laura Jarrett previously Trump could face criminal charges if he mishandled federal documents.

For him to be prosecuted for illegally retaining or destroying documents, prosecutors would need to prove that he “willfully” violated the law, which can be a high hurdle.

As for classified documents, Trump could theoretically claim, as president, that he declassified any documents in his possession. Read the full report assessing Trump’s risk.

At least one Democrat thinks this is very serious for the former president.

“If Donald Trump is my client and thank you Lord he isn’t, I would call him his family and say, ‘We have to make a deal, I might go to jail.’ I’ll tell you what to say,” the general of the Obama administration told CNN. Check out Katyal’s interview.

10 questions about the FBI’s search for Mar-a-Lago