FBI Probe Renews Focus on Trump’s Haphazard Handling of Files

Trump tore up notes, tossing them on floor or in toilets
Other papers ended up in Mar-a-Lago, possibly triggering FBI

The FBI raided and searched the home of former President Donald Trump in Florida. It’s part of an investigation into whether Trump took classified documents from the White House when he left office, an explosive development that risks hanging over his possible run for the presidency in 2024. Donald Ayer, former US deputy attorney general, speaks on “Balance of Power.”Source: Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Jennifer Jacobs and Gregory Korte

August 9, 2022 at 6:13 PM UTC

Updated on

August 9, 2022 at 10:08 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Donald Trump had his own way of keeping records during his presidency: heaping documents in boxes, tearing up papers to signal a discussion was over, even flushing some notes down the White House toilet.

That unorthodox approach is drawing attention as authorities investigate whether Trump took classified materials from the White House upon leaving office, a probe that escalated with an extraordinary FBI search of his Florida estate on Monday.