Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!

FBI Executed a Warrant at Mar a Lago; the Investigation Continues

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by duchen, Aug 8, 2022.

  1. sierragator

    sierragator GC Hall of Fame

    13,295
    12,846
    1,653
    Apr 8, 2007
    " we wouldn't want anything bad to happen, now would we? (so pay up)." Right out of a mobster movie
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Winner Winner x 1
  2. DesertGator

    DesertGator VIP Member

    4,463
    2,331
    1,988
    Apr 10, 2007
    Frisco, TX
    Correct. This is an outdated version, but the majority of the information in the "DoD Guide to Marking Classified Documents" is unchanged from this today. I'm betting he's banking on the "X7" declassify or some variation of it.
     
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  3. pkaib01

    pkaib01 GC Hall of Fame

    3,143
    647
    2,063
    Apr 3, 2007
     
    • Funny Funny x 3
  4. PerSeGator

    PerSeGator GC Hall of Fame

    2,288
    365
    1,993
    Jun 14, 2014
    Based on that document, it looks like X7 is an exception to the rule that a classified document should only remain classified for 10 years. It's not a method of declassifying, but of keeping something classified.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  5. DesertGator

    DesertGator VIP Member

    4,463
    2,331
    1,988
    Apr 10, 2007
    Frisco, TX
    That's why I said "some variation on it". I honestly don't know enough about it at the insider level. My experience with classified material is fairly well focused on what I've dealt with over the course of my career which was more maintaining and keeping documentation (or ensuring that no instances of classification by combination occur) as opposed to when and how to declassify it.

    EDIT: Typically though, classified documentation is explicitly marked with a "Declassify on" field to call out those exceptions to automatic declassification. And the 10 years isn't a hard rule, it's dependent on the level. Nat'l Security info is typically 25 years.
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2022
    • Like Like x 1
  6. slocala

    slocala VIP Member

    2,193
    584
    2,003
    Jan 11, 2009
    If the DOJ backs down, they need a credible out. I have no idea what the out could look like. It would have to be essentially a lack of evidence and they drop the whole thing.

    If the DOJ says, not so fast and brings charges, Trump is ready to fire his followers in canons like fodder. Trump will say he can’t control it.

    I think Garland is going for the jugular. This is going to go on simultaneously with a new GOP controlled house calling for Garland to investigate Hunter Biden and Joe Biden.

    The next 2 years are going to be insane.
     
  7. gatorchamps960608

    gatorchamps960608 GC Hall of Fame

    3,066
    700
    1,963
    Jul 4, 2020
    Their credible out is that the most secret of secrets here could be forced to be exposed in open court if there are trials.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. pkaib01

    pkaib01 GC Hall of Fame

    3,143
    647
    2,063
    Apr 3, 2007
    Since we don't know the motivation for the search warrant, we don't know if an out is necessary. The DOJ may have accomplished their goal of recovering classified and presidential documents. An indictment for a crime is not a given.

    So be it. Application of the law without fear or favor has its own return.

    They can call for Garland to investigate but I don't think they have authority to chose his priorities.

    Agreed!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. BLING

    BLING GC Hall of Fame

    7,541
    592
    2,843
    Apr 16, 2007
    These prosecutions have happened before. I was actually wondering how they manage that. Surely they don’t just make the documents part of the public record for all to see (defeating the entire purpose). My guess is they have experts that have security clearances review the docs and testify to their nature, perhaps allow the jury to see them in a secured room (no phones/devices) but not actually handle them… but even that seems a stretch.
     
  10. slocala

    slocala VIP Member

    2,193
    584
    2,003
    Jan 11, 2009
    I’ll take your word for it. But if it is super secret, that seems to imply a crime. Oh well, if only Joseph Heller was alive to write Catch 23.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. pkaib01

    pkaib01 GC Hall of Fame

    3,143
    647
    2,063
    Apr 3, 2007
    My guess is that's how it would play out. Just stipulate to the jury trump stole x documents classified as TS, SAP, SCI etc. The actual document contents should be immaterial to the actual crime.

    The jury doesn't need to see the cash to try a bank robber.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  12. pkaib01

    pkaib01 GC Hall of Fame

    3,143
    647
    2,063
    Apr 3, 2007
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  13. duchen

    duchen VIP Member

    12,603
    4,839
    3,208
    Nov 25, 2017
    Yes
     
  14. BLING

    BLING GC Hall of Fame

    7,541
    592
    2,843
    Apr 16, 2007
    “Nice country you got there, shame if anything bad happened to it”
     
    • Winner Winner x 3
    • Like Like x 1
  15. tampagtr

    tampagtr VIP Member

    16,119
    2,470
    1,618
    Apr 3, 2007
    That is often an issue in espionage trials. Joshua Schulte tried to use it
     
  16. pkaib01

    pkaib01 GC Hall of Fame

    3,143
    647
    2,063
    Apr 3, 2007
    I hate that we may have to litigate something so patently absurd.
     
    • Wish I would have said that Wish I would have said that x 1
  17. slocala

    slocala VIP Member

    2,193
    584
    2,003
    Jan 11, 2009
    Confiscating a passport = flight risk? o_O
     
  18. philnotfil

    philnotfil GC Hall of Fame

    16,795
    1,522
    1,718
    Apr 8, 2007
    If you don't want law enforcement to take things they have warrants for, you just put your passports in the pile and now they can't touch the stuff they came for. Brilliant!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  19. pkaib01

    pkaib01 GC Hall of Fame

    3,143
    647
    2,063
    Apr 3, 2007
    I don't know if a passport can be seized prior to an indictment. JDs?