Trump took secret materials to a so-called haven for spies. Then the FBI showed up.

After the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump tried to push back with a lengthy defense. It’s amazing just how unpersuasive it was. [View in browser]( [Image]( August 9, 2022 THE LATEST [Alternate text] [Trump took secret materials to a so-called haven for spies. Then the FBI showed up.]( by Steve Benen There are so many scandals surrounding Donald Trump that when news broke about federal law enforcement executing a search warrant at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago home, the political world had to collectively pause to ask an uncomfortable question: Which of the many ongoing investigations surrounding the former president generated these developments? As it turns out, we didn’t have to wait too long for an answer, [writes MaddowBlog's Steve Benen](. A source familiar with the matter tells NBC News that the search was tied to classified information Trump allegedly took with him from the White House to his Palm Beach resort in January 2021. Trump, overwhelmed with apparent self-pity in response, whined about the United States becoming a “third-world” country, pretended his other scandals weren’t real, complained about Hillary Clinton, and marveled at the fact that FBI agents, looking for documents, even “broke into” his safe. At no point in his 340-word statement did Trump get around to saying that he’s innocent. Read Steve Benen'sfull analysis](//link.msnbc.com/click/28666945.76399/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL3JhY2hlbC1tYWRkb3ctc2hvdy9tYWRkb3dibG9nL3Byb2JsZW0tdHJ1bXBzLXJlc3BvbnNlLWZiaS1yYWlkLW1hci1sYWdvLXJjbmE0MjE2Nj9jaWQ9ZW1sX21kYV8yMDIyMDgwOSZ1c2VyX2VtYWlsPWQ3ZGM3NDUxNzI5N2IzOTcxYWExNGQ2ZjMzMTEzNWEwODc4ZjhmNjQwZmExYTEwMTlmMTU3YjY1YzFiNWRkMWQ/58292da26e4adc7b0b8b4914F77b752a2/email//link.msnbc.com/click/28666945.76399/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL3JhY2hlbC1tYWRkb3ctc2hvdy9tYWRkb3dibG9nL3Byb2JsZW0tdHJ1bXBzLXJlc3BvbnNlLWZiaS1yYWlkLW1hci1sYWdvLXJjbmE0MjE2Nj9jaWQ9ZW1sX21kYV8yMDIyMDgwOSZ1c2VyX2VtYWlsPWQ3ZGM3NDUxNzI5N2IzOTcxYWExNGQ2ZjMzMTEzNWEwODc4ZjhmNjQwZmExYTEwMTlmMTU3YjY1YzFiNWRkMWQ/58292da26e4adc7b0b8b4914H77b752a2/email//link.msnbc.com/click/28666945.76399/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL3JhY2hlbC1tYWRkb3ctc2hvdy9tYWRkb3dibG9nL3Byb2JsZW0tdHJ1bXBzLXJlc3BvbnNlLWZiaS1yYWlkLW1hci1sYWdvLXJjbmE0MjE2Nj9jaWQ9ZW1sX21kYV8yMDIyMDgwOSZ1c2VyX2VtYWlsPWQ3ZGM3NDUxNzI5N2IzOTcxYWExNGQ2ZjMzMTEzNWEwODc4ZjhmNjQwZmExYTEwMTlmMTU3YjY1YzFiNWRkMWQ/58292da26e4adc7b0b8b4914J77b752a2/email[here](, and more continued coverage in Tuesday's [MSNBC Daily](. Stay informed with curated match-ups, race updates and key midterms analysis from experts like Steve Kornacki in our new pop-up elections newsletter: Countdown to Midterms. [CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP](     TOP STORIES [Alternate text] [Ryan Cooper]( [America would be enormously better off without the Senate]( America's wealth will be of little help if it isn't spent on necessary programs before disaster strikes. [Read More.]( [Richard W. Painter]( Biden must stop the hypocrisy of individual stock trading in Congress while he still can]( Americans are fed up with corruption and the appearance of corruption in Congress. [Read More.]( [Ja'han Jones]( GOP engages in literal food fight over LGBTQ protections]( The conservative movement is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to marginalize LGBTQ people. [Read More.]( [Steve Benen]( [Evidence appears to bolster claims about Trump flushing materials]( Donald Trump denied ever having flushed presidential materials down toilets. New evidence suggests otherwise. [Read More.](//link.msnbc.com/click/28666945.76399/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL29waW5pb24vbXNuYmMtb3Bpbmlvbi93aHktcmVwdWJsaWNhbnMtY2hyaXN0aWFuLW5hdGlvbmFsaXNtLXNvLWRhbmdlcm91cy1uMTI5NzUyNz9jaWQ9ZW1sX21kYV8yMDIyMDgwOSZ1c2VyX2VtYWlsPWQ3ZGM3NDUxNzI5N2IzOTcxYWExNGQ2ZjMzMTEzNWEwODc4ZjhmNjQwZmExYTEwMTlmMTU3YjY1YzFiNWRkMWQ/58292da26e4adc7b0b8b4914Bb158ae3d/email   TOP VIDEOS [Alternate text] [The ReidOut]( [What the FBI needed to have on Trump to obtain a search warrant to raid Mar-a-Lago]( [All In]( [Trump says FBI 'broke into my safe' during Mar-a-Lago raid]( [Morning Joe]( This search wasn't run by Democrats — the head of the FBI was appointed by Trump]( [Zerlina]( [Is Senate's bill passage the key to the midterms?](   MORE FROM MSNBC [Alternate text] Beginning Aug. 16, Alex Wagner brings her breadth of reporting experience to MSNBC Primetime, Tuesday through Friday at 9 p.m. ET. With the help of her guests, Alex will cover the most current news stories, politics and cultural trends shaping our country. Watch "Alex Wagner Tonight," premiering Aug. 16 at 9 p.m. ET.   [Image] [Image]   [Privacy]( [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_daily)