The FBI had been planning the raid for weeks after receiving information from a confidential source about allegedly classified documents being stored at Mar-a-Lago. Newsweek reported the informant both identified the documents and told investigators where they were located.
A senior Justice Department official condemned the FBI’s raid on Mar-a-Lago as a “spectacular backfire” for triggering a tsunami of backlash against the Justice Department.
Two senior DOJ officials spoke with Newsweek and disclosed new details about what led up to the raid.
According to one official, the FBI specifically planned to conduct the raid when former President Donald Trump was not present at Mar-a-Lago. Trump was in New York at the time of the raid, Fox News reported.
“What a spectacular backfire,” the senior DOJ official said of the FBI’s attempt to keep the raid “low-key.”
We have no reason to trust AG Garland’s integrity after he directed the DOJ to investigate parents who were protesting school boards over issues critical race theory and mask mandates as terror threats.
Here’s the narrative: Donald Trump, the president of the United States, stole classified nuclear documents after wrestling the steering wheel from a secret service agent, peeing on Russian prostitutes, and spitting on wounded veterans, and if you doubt this you’re an agent of Putin. If the FBI waited 18 months to seize “nuclear documents” from a country club, everyone at the agency should be fired.
Quick Notes:
Presidents have the inherent constitutional (and statutory) authority to declassify anything they want.
They don’t need to label it.
They don’t need to report it.
They don’t have to tell anyone.
They can do it through their actions.
As a matter of law, no President can be charged under the Espionage Act for “mishandling” classified records.
When President Trump had the records sent to Mar-a-Lago, they were declassified.
Former presidents don’t have this power.
But Trump did this as the President.
All Presidents take records when they leave.
They don’t pack their own boxes.
National Archives takes the position that almost everything is a “presidential record.”
It’s routine for any Office of the Former President to negotiate with the National Archives.
They could’ve alerted Congress.
The Biden DOJ could’ve filed a civil lawsuit.
They could’ve sought a subpoena.
But unprecedented home raid?!
AG Merrick Garland attempted to defend the indefensible in his political press conference.
He left more questions than answers.
He’s a former federal judge and prosecutor.
He should be ashamed of himself for politicizing the Justice Department so dangerously.
He must resign.
All former Presidents get a federally funded office.
Office of the Former President.
With staff.
And security clearances.
And Secret Service protection.
And secure facilities (SCIFs) for classified records.
Even if Trump had classified records, they were protected.
Period.
The Office of Former President Trump—like every other former president’s federal office—is equipped and secure enough to handle these declassified records.
This is a routine dispute with bureaucrats at the National Archives about whether these are presidential records.