FBI searched Melania Trump’s wardrobe during Mar-a-Lago raid, report says
Raid combed through Trump family’s 3,000sqft private quarters, as well as a separate office and safe
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.FBI agents who searched former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Monday reportedly also combed through his wife Melania Trump’s wardrobe.
Agents had a search warrant that focused solely on presidential records and evidence of classified information being kept at the former president’s plush residence in Palm Beach, Florida, according to the New York Post.
The FBI agents conducted searches in every room as the former president’s staff were instructed by his lawyers to unlock all doors for the agency.
They were also granted access to the Versailles master bedroom, renovated by Ms Trump two years ago.
The raid, which lasted more than nine hours, combed through the Trump family’s 3,000sqft private quarters, as well as a separate office and safe, and a locked basement storage room in which 15 cardboard boxes of material from the White House were stored.
On Monday evening, announcing the raid, the former president hit out at FBI agents for breaking into his private safe.
“Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries. Sadly, America has now become one of those Countries, corrupt at a level not seen before,” he said in a statement.
Mr Trump also alleged that Joe Biden knew that the former president’s Mar-a-Lago estate was going to be raided by the FBI, but the White House has denied the claim.
The search on Monday was part of the Justice Department’s investigation into how the former president handled sensitive documents at the end of his administration.
It comes after it was revealed that aides to Donald Trump “regularly” discovered what appeared to be official notes or documents and stuffed in White House toilets apparently in attempts to destroy them.
It is unrelated to DOJ’s separate inquiry into the January 6 riots at the US Capitol, a probe that is reportedly also focusing in part on the former president.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments