How the FBI knew what to search for at Mar-a-Lago – and why the Presidential Records Act is an essential tool for the National Archives and future historians
The ConversationDec 26, 2022
The Facts
The FBI searched the Palm Beach, Florida residence of former Pres. Trump on Mon., reportedly as part of an investigation into whether he took classified records from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago home.
Fox News reported that the National Archives and Records Administration referred the case to the Justice Department, which previously recovered 15 boxes of classified materials from Trump's Fla. home.
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
It's unprecedented and absurd for the FBI to target a former president, especially when that former president is considering a run for office against the current administration. The search warrant will eventually have to become public, and the American people will hopefully then know the official reasons why Trump is under attack.
Democratic narrative
No one is above the law, and federal law enforcement officials have acted in a straightforward and process-oriented manner. Federal law officials believe there is evidence of a crime, so they coordinated with a judge, and they executed a search warrant. What is incredibly concerning is the GOP enflaming tensions among Trump's base, calling into question the FBI as an institution, and taking a dangerous and indefensible position that Trump is above the law.
