FBI searches Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and seizes documents

According to two sources, federal investigators have seized documents from Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, Palm Beach, Florida. This is the latest indication that the US justice department has intensified its criminal investigation into Trump's affairs.

According to sources, the FBI executed an arrest warrant at Trump's home at 9am Monday morning. This was part of an ongoing investigation into Trump's possible illegal removal and destruction White House records.

The Justice Department's decision to search Mar-a-Lago in relation to the removal of 15 boxes containing presidential records from the White House as well as destruction of other materials marks a dramatic step up in the investigation.

Trump stated that his beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida is under siege and raided. He also added: "They even broke in to my safe!"

Trump has been previously under investigation for flagrant violations of 1978 Presidential Records Act. This law mandates the preservation of White House documents. But the first search appears to indicate that Trump could be in legal trouble for his records practices.

Although rarely enforced by the law, it imposes severe penalties on those who willfully and illegally remove or destroy presidential records. These include fines, imprisonment, and most importantly, disqualification from any future or current office.

One source said that the former president was not present at Mar-a-Lago during the raid. He was instead at his Bedminster golf club, New Jersey. The FBI had already fled the property by the time Trump made the statement, suggesting that the raid was still ongoing.

Mar-a-Lago was Trump's "winter White House" during his presidency. After leaving Washington, Trump and Melania returned to Mar-a-Lago with their children. Since then, Trump has made the Florida resort the centre of his political activities.