On Monday evening, the United States’ former president Donald Trump issued a statement stating a raid at his Florida home. For the first time in US history has a former President’s home been scoured by law enforcement. The FBI raiding of Donald Trump’s house, Mar-a-Lago is reportedly linked to Trump’s mishandling of classified and sensitive documents.
Highlights:
- FBI raids Donald Trump’s House reportedly for handling classified documents.
- What does the unprecedented search insinuate?
- Trump allies are calling for an investigation of the FBI and DoJ.
As per federal law, when a President’s term is complete, they are to leave all presidential documents, emails, and classified materials with the National Archives, something Trump failed to do. Reportedly when Trump left the White House, he took presidential documents and classified materials with him to Mar-a-Lago.
Following the search, in a lengthy statement about the FBI’s raid, Trump revealed,
“These are dark times for our nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents. Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before…”
In his statement, Trump also alleges that the FBI broke into his safe too. Donald Trump was in his apartment in Manhattan when the FBI was searching Mar-a-Lago. Donald Trump’s son on Fox News Channel said the FBI marched inside Mar-a-Lago without providing any notice. Furthermore, the FBI and the Department of Justice have declined to comment on the matter.
What does the FBI raiding Donald Trump’s house imply?
In light of this extraordinary and unprecedented event, legal experts say that a judge wouldn’t sign off without proof of the probable cause of a crime being committed and that evidence is in the home. In addition, the experts say the FBI and the Department of Justice hardly ever comment on such matters when the investigation is under process.
Previously in January, the National Archives along with a few federal agents, visited Trump’s home in Florida while he was there. They retrieved 15 boxes of documents that also consisted of classified documents and presidential documents. After that, the National Archives referred the case to Justice Department to know what else Trump might’ve taken from the White House.
According to the Presidential Records Act, all presidential records are the public property of the US government. After the end of an administration, National Archives takes over all such documents. In the past, no president has ever faced the violation of this act.
Mishandling of classified documents is a federal crime. While Trump is already surrounded by several investigations involving him, this investigation, if charged, could potentially challenge Trump’s chances in the 2024 United States presidential elections.
Republicans call for an investigation of the FBI and Department of Justice.
As soon as the FBI’s raid news broke in the US, Republicans rushed to Donald Trump’s defence. In addition, the Republicans are pushing to defund the Federal Bureau of Investigation and calling for an investigation of the FBI, as well as the Department of Justice. Trump too, has alleged that Democrats are ‘weaponising the justice system’ to target him.
Several media reports and sources close to Trump have revealed that the Secret Service was informed forty-five minutes before the raid. Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers arrived an hour later at Mar-a-Lago but were restricted to enter the premises.
New updates on the FBI raiding Donald Trump’s house.
As per several reports, a staff member present at Trump’s Florida home informed Eric Trump about the FBI search, and Eric further told Donald Trump. It was Trump’s offices and personal quarters that the FBI searched, according to CNN reports.
On July 20th, US Attorney General Merric Garland emphasised that “no person is above the law in this country.” Yesterday, during the press statement, the Press Secretary of the White House was asked about the FBI’s raid at former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida. Karine Jean-Pierre refused to comment and stated that the Department of Justice is the right place to get answers.
The extraordinary search by the FBI at Mar-a-Lago has ignited a political firestorm in the United States. Several people protested outside The Trump Tower in Manhattan. These events have spurred a political debate in the United States. But the question that remains now is – Will Donald Trump be charged with legal actions?
