House search in Mar-a-Lago – FBI at Trump: What is known so far – News


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A novelty in US history: The federal police are searching the property of an ex-president. The current state of knowledge.

What happened in Mar-a-Lago? In a process unprecedented in US history, the FBI has investigated former President Donald Trump’s luxury home. “My beautiful home, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., is currently under siege, search and occupation by a large group of FBI agents,” Trump wrote on Monday evening (local time) on Truth Social, a network he co-founded. . The search began early Monday morning. There has never been a raid on the home of a former US President.

Legend:

Mar-a-Lago is one of ex-President Trump’s three residences. Trump bought the property in 1985. He also spent a lot of time here during his four-year presidency and also received state guests there, such as China’s President Xi Jinping.

Keystone / CAROLYN KASTER

What was the FBI looking for? According to media reports, the process is related to Trump’s handling of files and documents from his time in the White House. There is no official confirmation for this. Trump was accused of withholding files and documents from his time in the White House. The New York Times even reported that Trump flushed documents down the toilet during his presidency. Trump rejected that. On Monday, photos finally appeared to prove this.

A police car in front of Trump's luxury residence Mar-a-Lago.

Legend:

A police car in front of Trump’s luxury residence Mar-a-Lago.

Keystone/Wilfredo Lee

There was anger mainly because Trump is said to have brought 15 boxes full of government documents, memorabilia, gifts and letters from the White House to his home in Florida. Among them are said to be documents that are believed to contain classified information on national security. According to the media, these included letters from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a letter from Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama. In the United States, by law, all Presidential correspondence must be archived.

Does the search endanger a possible candidacy?


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With a view to Trump’s possible candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, the “New York Times” raises the question of whether he would be banned from public office – and thus also for the presidency – if he were to be banned from taking files and documents from the White House have violated applicable US law. US federal law provides that taking, damaging, forging, or destroying government documents, among other things, is a crime. If convicted, there is a risk of a fine or imprisonment of up to three years – and the person concerned should be disqualified from any public office in the United States.

However, the New York Times also points out that the paragraph had already been scrutinized briefly in connection with Hillary Clinton in 2015, who was then considered the likely Democratic presidential candidate. At that time it became known that as Foreign Minister (2009-2013) she had used a private e-mail server to send official e-mails. She was reprimanded for this in an investigation report by the State Department, but the US Federal Police (FBI) later dropped investigations against her and did not recommend charges. Clinton ran against Trump in November 2016 but lost.

What is the legal situation? The ex-president finally handed over several documents to the National Administration for Archives and Records. However, the judiciary is said to have initiated an investigation. A search of a former President’s property requires approval at the highest level of the Justice Department.

Justice Department officials declined to comment on any aspect of the search warrant, the New York Times reports. The hurdles for a house search of an ex-president are high, explains SRF correspondent Barbara Colpi. “Several judges have to give the green light for the house search based on the evidence.” The raid must have been planned well in advance.

How does Trump react? The 76-year-old was in New York during the proceedings, Fox News Digital reported. Since leaving the White House in January 2021, Trump has lived mostly in Mar-a-Lago. However, he usually spends the summers at his golf club in Bedminster, about 70 kilometers from New York. The ex-president did not go into the reasons for the raid, but made it public himself.

Mar-a-Lago is “besieged, searched and occupied by a large group of FBI agents”. In view of the cooperation with “the relevant government authorities”, “this unannounced raid on my house is neither necessary nor appropriate”. “Even” his safe was opened. Trump called the process “political persecution” and an attack by the “radical left Democrats”. In the evening, several dozen Trump supporters gathered near Mar-a-Lago in solidarity.

Supporters of ex-President Donald Trump.

Legend:

Trump supporters gathered near Mar-a-Lago on Monday evening.

Reuters/Marco Bello

Verdict: Trump must disclose tax returns


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Former US President Donald Trump has to hand over his tax documents to a House of Representatives committee of inquiry. This was decided by a federal appeals court, thereby confirming an earlier judgment.

“We expect to receive the requested tax returns and audit documents immediately,” the panel tweeted after the judge’s verdict. Contrary to common practice, Trump refrained from publishing his tax return when he was elected to the White House. The verdict is not yet legally binding. Experts expect Donald Trump to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

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