FBI search of Mar-a-Lago (Trump's residence)

The FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence took place on August 8, 2022, when federal agents executed a court-approved search warrant at Trump’s private club and home in Palm Beach, Florida. The warrant was authorized by the U.S. Attorney General and a federal magistrate judge following a criminal referral by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which had been trying to recover government records that Trump had taken with him after leaving office. The investigation focused on whether Trump unlawfully retained classified national defence information, unlawfully removed or destroyed federal records, and obstructed government efforts to recover those records. During the search, the FBI seized thousands of government documents, including over 300 classified materials, some marked with sensitive or top-secret classifications, as well as empty classified folders. Many items were found mixed with personal effects, raising concerns about improper handling of highly restricted information. The extensive document recovery was part of a broader Justice Department inquiry into Trump’s retention and storage of federal records, including materials covered by the Presidential Records Act. The unprecedented search of a former president’s residence sparked intense debate across the U.S. about legal accountability, executive records laws, and the balance between law enforcement and political controversy.