Trump Says Mar-a-Lago Home in Florida Raided by FBI

Former U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned FBI brokers have raided his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Seashore, Florida.

“My lovely residence, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Seashore, Florida is at the moment underneath siege, raided, and occupied by a big group of FBI brokers,” Trump mentioned in prolonged assertion Monday night. “After working and cooperating with the related authorities businesses, this unannounced raid on my residence was not mandatory or acceptable.”

The circumstances of the search weren’t instantly clear, in response to media studies. The Justice Division, nonetheless, has been actively investigating the invention of categorized data in bins of data that have been taken to Trump’s Florida residence after he left the White Home in January 2021.

Trump, who was in New York Metropolis on Monday, didn’t say why the raid befell. The FBI and Justice Division didn’t instantly touch upon Trump’s assertion.

Justice Division spokesperson Dena Iverson declined to touch upon the search to The Related Press. Iverson additionally declined to remark about whether or not Lawyer Normal Merrick Garland had personally licensed the search, in response to media studies.

An individual acquainted with the matter, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate an ongoing investigation, advised the AP the search occurred earlier Monday.

Earlier this yr, the Nationwide Archives and Data Administration mentioned it had discovered categorized materials in 15 bins at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. It then referred the case to the Justice Division.

The Presidential Data Act of 1978 established that every one presidential data are owned by the general public and robotically switch into the custody of the Nationwide Archives as quickly as a commander-in-chief leaves workplace. All presidential libraries and museums are a part of the Nationwide Archives.

“Presidential data are the property of the USA authorities and are administered by the Nationwide Archives,” Meghan Ryan Guthorn, appearing deputy chief working officer of the company, advised VOA earlier this yr. “So, all presidential papers, supplies and data within the custody of the Nationwide Archives, whether or not donated, seized or ruled by the Presidential Data Act, are owned by the federal authorities.”

The previous president accused the federal government of “prosecutorial misconduct,” saying the raid quantities to the “weaponization of the Justice System.”

“Nothing like this has ever occurred to a President of the USA earlier than,” he mentioned.

Trump mentioned FBI brokers even broke into the protected in his residence.

Evan Corcoran, a lawyer representing Trump, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from The Washington Publish.

The developments come as Trump has been getting ready for a possible presidential run in 2024, presumably setting himself up for a rematch towards President Joe Biden. He accused Democrats of “desperately” not wanting him to run once more.

Prime Biden White Home officers mentioned they weren’t given advance discover of the raid, in response to media studies.

The Justice Division has been investigating the elimination of official presidential data to Trump’s Florida property on the conclusion of his presidency. It isn’t clear if the raid has something to do with that investigation.

Trump has beforehand mentioned he agreed to return sure data to the U.S. Nationwide Archives and Data Administration, calling it “an peculiar and routine course of.”

The Justice Division additionally has been investigating efforts by allies of Trump to overturn the outcomes of the 2020 presidential election and the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol.

The division has not introduced whether or not it would search felony fees towards Trump in that investigation.

Dora Mekouar contributed to this report. Some data on this report comes from The Related Press and Reuters.