Are there any laws that actually govern how these enforcement agencies are meant to behave? This all seems so far above and beyond their formal mandate.
Good question. But it’s the FIB/Gestapo, so the answer is likely, “Because We Could. Whatcha gonna do about it?”
They took them because they could. That’s what thugs do.
Oh, also these panties that somehow got put in our boxes...
It's one thing to be arrogant and stupid; but it's really dangerous when those people have so much authority and access to a legal process that literally ruins lives.
This needs to be shut down. Fast.
They intentionally took them so it could be leaked. “Sources close to the investigation are reporting Donald Trump’s passports have been seized by the State Department, citing Trump as a flight risk”
THEY never anticipated the public outcry regarding this raid on Trump, so they back pedaled on the passports. Screwing with Mother Pelosi has consequences.
Remember when Trump grounded Pelosi’s plane?
January 2019: “Wednesday, Pelosi suggested that Trump delay his annual speech to Congress, essentially threatening to use her power as speaker to block him from the Capitol. (The State of the Union is delivered by formal invitation from lawmakers.) In response, the president was initially, and uncharacteristically, silent. No name-calling tweets, no blustery sound bites. But on Thursday afternoon, just as Pelosi was about to board a plane bound for Europe, Trump exacted his revenge.”
By seizing things that were not within the scope of the warrant, and by failing to properly document what was seized, I’d bet any lawyer could get anything they did seize thrown out as evidence. The presumption that they honestly documented the chain of custody is destroyed.
And that CBS assured us were not taken.
The passports were deliberately collected as an intimidation tactic
Trump should get whatever the Stasi is willing to give back immediately, then file a federal suit for the rest. At minimum there should be an independent Special Master to decide what documents are potentially classified, and to make a comprehensive, real inventory. You can bet the FBI has already made copies of everything and intends to keep them, but Trump’s suit should include a requirement that all copies and digital images/files be destroyed.
F-Troop…. Totally corrupt
Passport thieves !
Isn’t anything taken that is not listed in the search warrant stolen property? Thieving bastards, aren’t they?