Trump called it "not necessary or appropriate". His allies said it was a weaponization of law enforcement and a federal escalation move they were conspiring to call to destroy Trump before the presidential election. The FBI and DOJ declined to comment on the investigation. Biden administration officials said there was no prior notice.
Alongside anger at the FBI, the feeling among Trump allies was that the search could be a potential political benefit to the former president.
I speculated that both a person near Trump and another individual in contact with the former president would accelerate his decision to announce the president's bid. Dan Scavino, Trump's longtime aide and social media guru, tweeted "DO IT — 45. # TRUMP 2024."
Trump's team was bullish on the political interests of being targeted by the FBI, but the situation has clear and obvious drawbacks. Legal experts note that the former president is rarely targeted so aggressively, and that authorities are very unlikely to take such action without clear evidence of misconduct. Stated. The investigation requires the approval of a federal judge or justice of the peace who issues a warrant based on evidence of a potential crime.
In addition to being the focus and goal of the House Commission on January 6, Trump has been involved in many legal dramas and headaches. Focus groups of Trump 2020 voters have shown that even they are alert to the drama that accompanies his political adventure and are ready to move on.
Trump, who spends the summer in Bedminster, NJ, was said to have been searched by his son Eric Trump while working at the Trump Tower in Midtown, Manhattan. According to someone familiar with the events of the day, Trump's lawyer and former One America News Network host, Christina Bob, was present at Marago while the FBI was searching for Trump's items. The person said documents had been confiscated from the house where Trump maintained his main residence and established his post-presidential office.
Hours after Trump issued the statement, a number of prominent Republicans and allies, from RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel to Congressman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Be angry and supportive. I sent a statement. By the end of the night, theRNC shattered the funding text: "This is not a drill: an unprecedented move Biden's FBIRAIDS Pres. Trump's house. Congress It's time to get it back. "
Republican officials' remarks were a Lithomas test for Trump's aides and allies who knew the strength of the party members blaming the FBI. The aide said he was pleased with the statement by house minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif), who vowed to take action against the Justice Department on the FBI's investigation.
"I've seen enough," McCarthy said in a statement. "The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politics. When the Republicans regain the House of Representatives, we will provide immediate oversight of this sector, follow the facts and leave no stones behind. Secretary [Merrick] Garland, save your documents and clear your calendar. "
Others like Senator Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) Are more cautious. I took a good approach. "President Trump is likely to run again in 2024," Graham wrote. "No one is beyond the law. The law must be above politics."
So far, Trump has not been in the limelight as a result of his search. He avoided media appearances, even when Eric Trump took him to Fox News, and his daughter-in-law, Lara, did the same. The former president was seen leaving Trump Tower for Bedminster, wearing a suit and tie, ignoring the screaming questions about the search. He later called two Teletown Halls for Connecticut Senator candidate Leora Levy and Alaska Legislature candidate Sarah Palin. He made a few mentions of what happened that day.
"Another day in Paradise. Today was a strange day," Trump said cheerfully at Palin's Town Hall.
This search is the latest development in a month-long investigation into whether the Trump administration mishandled presidential records. The National Archives and Records Administration removed the box from Trump's resort in January and asked if the former president violated the Presidential Records Act by improperly handling confidential documents, memos, and souvenirs from the White House. had.
Trump and his lawyer claim to be working with the authorities.CNN reported, a brief meeting with investigators earlier this summer while the former president and his legal team were in Mar-a-Lago, and a document I checked where it was stored. They also asked questions about the declassification process. An interview with Brightbert with former national security official Kash Patel, one of Trump's aides claimed that documents marked "classified" in Mar-a-Lago had already been declassified.pointed out. The markings have not been updated yet.
Former Federal Attorney General Neil Katyalreleases a copy of the investigation warrant left on Mar-a-Lago to Trump on MSNBCRequested. "If you believe this is such abuse, release the warrant and let us decide for ourselves," Katyal said.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his office weren't bothered about the search either. In a tweet, the Republican governor called it "another escalation in the weaponization of the Federal Office against the regime's political opponents, while people like Hunter Biden are treated with children's gloves."
One of Trump's former advisers, who noted DeSantis' tweet and mentioned the possibility of the governor bidding for the president, said at this moment, "Party."