Report: Someone Close To Trump Tipped Off FBI
An informant tipped off the FBI about what documents former President Donald Trump was keeping at his Mar-a-Lago residence and where to find them, according to multiple reports.
The FBI raided Mar-a-Lago on Monday. Various media outlets and Trump’s son, Eric Trump, have suggested that it was because of material the former president took from the White House to his home.
Two unnamed senior government officials told Newsweek that an informant revealed to authorities what documents Trump had in his possession and where they were kept.
According to the outlet’s sources, the raid was executed while Trump was away to keep the process under wraps for as long as possible. One official said the move was a “spectacular backfire” after the raid received immense backlash.
The Wall Street Journal’s reporting corroborated the information from Newsweek. The Journal also spoke to unnamed officials familiar with the situation who confirmed that an individual told investigators that there were classified documents at Trump’s Palm Beach residence.
On Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said he “personally approved the decision to seek a search warrant in this matter.”
“The department does not take such a decision lightly. Where possible, it is standard practice to seek less intrusive means as an alternative to a search and to narrowly scope any search that is undertaken,” Garland said.
Sources: Newsweek | The Wall Street Journal | Axios