Recently unveiled documents have brought to light that the FBI did not initially deem there was probable cause to execute a raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022. These declassified records suggest that the FBI felt significant pressure from the Justice Department under President Joe Biden to proceed with the operation despite their hesitance.

According to the correspondence, the decision to conduct the raid stemmed from a single tip-off. This singular source raised concerns that the justification for the search warrant might not meet the rigorous evidentiary standards typically required, particularly when it involves a former president.

The documents handed over by the FBI to Congress detail an ongoing effort by the Washington Field Office to persuade the Department of Justice (DOJ) to opt for negotiations with Trump’s legal team. The aim was to facilitate the return of any classified materials that might have been taken from the White House during Trump’s tenure.

In a striking revelation, an email from an FBI agent cites George Toscas, then-Deputy Assistant Attorney General, who reportedly expressed a dismissive attitude toward the potential public perception of raiding a former president’s residence, stating that he “frankly doesn’t give a damn about the optics.”

In one email, an FBI agent quotes then-Deputy Assistant Attorney General George Toscas allegedly saying in a meeting he ‘frankly doesn’t give a damn about the optics’ of a raid on the former president’s residence.

Another reveals how the FBI believed a raid would be ‘counterproductive,’ and suggested an ‘alternative, less intrusive’ way to reclaim classified records.

But on August 4, 2022, an email went out detailing a plan for executing the warrant despite objections from the FBI. 

‘The FBI intends for the execution of the warrant to be handled in a professional, low key manner, and to be mindful of the optics of the search,’ an agent wrote.

Newly declassified emails show that President Joe Biden’s FBI did not think it had the evidence needed to justify probable cause to raid Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home – but went forward with the operation anyway

The raid resulted in the recovery of thousands of government documents – with at least 103 featuring some sort of classified markings

The agent requested the FBI handle the operation and the DOJ steer clear of the property due to the ‘antagonistic relationship’ with Trump. 

The emails between the Bureau and DOJ in the months leading up to the raid show the FBI official serving as special agent in charge of the investigation expressing concerns about the need for a search of Mar-a-Lago.

‘Very little has been developed related to who might be culpable for mishandling the documents,’ they said.

‘Even as we continue down the path towards a search warrant, WFO believes that a reasonable conversation with the former president’s attorney, (stating that the FBI and DOJ are readying a search warrant, and have developed information that there are more documents at Mar a Lago), ought not to be discounted.’

The agent, whose name and email are redacted, claims that the WFO drafted a search warrant related to recovering boxes of potentially sensitive materials allegedly taken to Trump’s residence after his term.

But the individual noted the field office ‘has some concerns that the information is single source, has not been corroborated, and may be dated.’

Despite objections and concerns over the warrant, the raid was carried out. 

Around 8.30am on August 8, 2022, FBI agents arrive at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. They notified the Secret Service ahead of time and did not wear any identifying jackets to execute the warrant.

But news quickly broke that the FBI was raiding the former president’s Florida home.

Donald Trump speaks to reporters after a ceremony for the presentation of the Mexican Border Defense Medal in the Oval Office of the White House on December 15

Agents seized more than 13,000 government documents, including at least 103 items with classified markings covering sensitive topics like nuclear weapons and national security matters.

The agents were gone by around 4:30 pm that afternoon after inspecting the basement storage unit, Trump’s ’45 Office’ and his entire residence, which famously included inspecting Melania Trump’s closet and Barron Trump’s room.

It was the first time in US history the FBI searched a former president’s home and was part of the post-presidency government investigations into Trump.

Trump’s attorneys Christina Bobb and Lindsey Halligan were on site but both were restricted from entering searched areas.

Bobb detailed the raid in her memoir and Halligan is now Trump’s controversial acting Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.