As the details emerge surrounding the surprise FBI raid of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence on Monday, the debate concerning the event has exploded.
The primary reason behind the raid may have been the search for allegedly classified material pertaining to Trump’s term as president.
The Presidential Records Act exists to preserve all “documentary materials … created or received by the President” or pertinent staff, “in the course of conducting activities which relate to or have an effect upon the carrying out of the constitutional, statutory, or other official or ceremonial duties of the President.”
After leaving office, the president has to transfer legal custody of these records to the National Archive.
In February 2022, the Trump team transferred 15 boxes of documents to the National Archives while working with them to ensure compliance with the statute. In a letter to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Archivist of the United States David Ferriero claimed that they had “identified items marked as classified national security information within the boxes.”
After noting that they were in conversations with the Justice Department, Ferriero explained that they were still actively working with Trump to preserve “any additional presidential records that have not been transferred to NARA [National Archives and Records Administration], as required by the Presidential Records Act.”
Although no information has been made public regarding the nature of the FBI warrant or what type of material was recovered from Trump’s estate, indications suggested that the raid was at least somewhat connected to presidential records.
CNN legal analyst Paul Callan expressed dismay about the raid’s legitimacy if the only justification was to expedite compliance with the Presidential Records Act.
“It’s not enough to warrant all of this,” he claimed, “And this is a daring and dangerous move by the Department of Justice to serve a warrant on a former president and to raid his personal residence.”
Additionally, people from across the political spectrum denounced the raid or expressed apprehension about its validity.
Andrew McCabe, former FBI leader under Obama and Trump, also expressed concern over the justification for the raid. He explained on CNN, “This is such a bold, such a disruptive, such an aggressive move. The idea they would do this simply because they weren’t getting the sort of compliance they were looking for … seems unimaginable to me … I hope they have more than just that.”
Former Trump administration member Mike Pompeo suggested that the government seemingly enforced a double standard, writing, “The apparent political weaponization of DOJ/FBI is shameful. … I served on Benghazi Com. Where we proved Hillary possessed classified info. We didn’t raid her home.”
Supporters of the raid, however, insist that Trump’s record displays an ongoing issue with the security of classified government materials and forced the government to take a more hands-on approach.
Law professor Stephen Gillers told NPR, “The Justice Department is saying, as I read this, ‘We’re fed up. We don’t trust you to be responsive. You’re playing games with us, and we’re going in, and we’re taking what you haven’t returned.'”
This raid comes as whistleblowers have raised the alarm over claims that the FBI and the intelligence establishment have engaged in partisan interference, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Shows true fear of Mr.Trump and the republicans the Democrats are scared of losing the power they have at the present.All parties and departments involved in this farce should be tried and convicted of crimes and sent to their states prisons.
Mr Trump has the warrant why doesn’t he simply release it? Seems like he likes playing the victim card to raise campaign funds.
Trump doesn’t have the warrant. The warrant was a sealed warrant.
Trump has a copy of the warrant, or knows why it why it was served. Sealed to the public. I am sure he will reveal the contents when he reveals his tax returns!!
Apparently, Trump did not receive a copy of the warrant. He wasn’t at Mar-a-Lago to receive it. He was in New York.
Correct. He was in NewYork at the time of the warrant was served, and was not personally handed the warrant. But he has a copy now, or his Lawyers do.
“Fear” of Drumpf and the Republicans? Hahahahahahahahahahaha.
What the masses fear are people such as yourself, far left/liberal/progressive nut jobs who wish to destroy our Constitutional Republic. Get a clue sir…
They are terrified. To think otherwise would be foolish.
Between paragraphs 4 and 5, you left out that Trump removed 15 boxes of documents to his personal residence in violation of the Presidential Records Act. I assume it just got accidentally dropped because this makes it sound like 15 boxes being at his residence for over a year was normal.
First of all the Secret Service ratted him out, second, the FBI got tired of Trump ignoring and refusing to comply.
No one is above the law !
Democrats ARE above the law. Look at what Hillary got away with, laptops wiped clean, and phones smashed with hammers, etc.
Wah, wah, wah. Have you ever worked in IT, ever retired an old laptop? Obviously not.
Let me find the world’s tiniest violin for ya.
No one above the except for dumocraps!!!!!
In D.C. any democrat is above the law. re Hillary’s lawyer admitted his guilt but was found not guilty. Any republican O’Bannon is found guilty.
Trump had an unprecedented 99% approval rating at CPAC, polling his base. De Santis came in 2nd with 64%. No one else came close.
In light of Trump’s spoken commitment to fire 50,000 federal bureaucrats, it’s no wonder the Deep State wants to eliminate him and are desperate in their attempts to do so.
This issue is not “Republican vs. Democrat,” rather, unelected deep state bureaucrats vs. the American People.
Choose to Save America this coming election!
Amen! Democrats are beyond desperate.
Wonderful and truthful comment. I thoroughly agree with you.
Thank you. Have a nice day!!!!
We know what prompted the raid. It was because of after 6 1/2 years, Democrats haven’t been able to find anything on President Trump and they are now VERY desperate because an election is coming up and they are in big trouble. President Trump is very smart. Unlike Hillary, he knows enough to not keep classified material in his home. Democrats are scraping below the bottom of the barrel and have stooped below low to the point of breaking the law.
It’s the same FBI that knew Trump – Russia was BS from the start as revealed in the Sussman trial documents for all to see.
At least all of those with at least minimal curiosity who don’t get their limited “info” spoon fed to them by network owning hedge fund billionaires.
Dont do crimes and the FBI won’t visit you.
Really Dingo…ask those who have already had the wrath of the FBI descending on their respective properties…BS and you know it.
Biden really knows how to win over people.
What do the red flags by our comments signify?
Can you find someone to quote in your article other than CNN.