Former agent warns everything could “disappear.”
QUICK FACTS:
- An “informant” likely provided information that led to the raid Monday at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
- Retired FBI Special Agent in Charge, Michael Tabman, who spent 24 years working for the agency said, “I think somebody gave them information indicating these documents are there.”
- He added that authorities probably had suspicions that they hadn’t been told the truth about the existence of the records or had a good reason to think that the only way they could get the records was to raid the former president’s Florida home.
- “I think there was inside information — call it an informant if you want,” Tabman said. “I believe either someone told them something or some other information was stumbled upon, which was kind of conclusive in their minds that they had to go now to get that or they’re not getting it.”
- “You know, everything could disappear,” the retired FBI agent said. “You got evidence that you need to get before it disappears or it moves and you can’t see it anymore. I can’t think of this having happened to a former president.”
TRUMP’S STATEMENT ON THE RAID:
- “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,” Trump said in a statement Monday evening.
- “Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before. After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate. It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024.”
- Trump added: “The political persecution of President Donald J. Trump has been going on for years, with the now fully debunked Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2, and so much more, it just never ends. It is political targeting at the highest level!”
BACKGROUND:
- Both the FBI and the Justice Department declined to comment. However, according to NBC News, the FBI informed the Secret Service that a warrant would be carried out, and Secret Service agents facilitated entry to the resort but did not participate in the search itself.
- According to a senior White House official, the president’s team was not made aware of the raid in advance. Instead, some West Wing staff members learned about it on social media.
- Trump was at Trump Tower in New York City during the raid and has recently visited Bedminster, New Jersey.
