The FBI targeted Donald Trump’s office and personal quarters as they raided his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of an investigation into the handling of presidential documents, including classified documents, which may have been brought to Florida. say three people familiar with the situation.
Trump, who confirmed the raid took place on CNN, declined to say why FBI agents were at Mar-a-Lago, but the former president said the raid was unannounced and that “they even broke into my safe.”
“My beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided and occupied by a large group of FBI agents,” he said in a statement.
The former president of the United States, Donald Trump. (Getty)
The raid began in the early hours of the morning local time, and law enforcement personnel appeared to be focused on the area of the club where Trump’s offices and personal quarters are located, according to a person familiar with the ‘subject.
Trump was not in Florida at the time of the raid.
The Justice Department declined to comment, as did the White House.
A White House official said he had not been notified of the attack.
CNN has reached out to the FBI for comment.
Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort was dubbed the “Winter White House” while he was in office. (Getty)
“After working and cooperating with the appropriate government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was neither necessary nor appropriate,” Trump said in his statement.
The action comes as Trump has laid the groundwork for another bid for the presidency.
The Justice Department has been investigating the discovery of boxes of records containing classified information that were taken to Mar-a-Lago after Trump’s presidency had concluded.
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That matter was referred to the Department of Justice by the National Archives and Records Administration, which said it had found classified material in 15 boxes at the residence.
Federal law prohibits the removal of classified documents to unauthorized sites, although Trump may try to argue that, as president, he was the ultimate declassification authority.
There are several statutes governing classified information, including a law punishable by up to five years in prison that makes it a crime to delete such records and keep them in an unauthorized location.
Another statute makes it a crime to mishandle classified records, either intentionally or grossly negligently.
It was unclear if the FBI search was related to that investigation.
A separate investigation into efforts by Trump allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol has also intensified in Washington.