FBI returns Trump's seized documents amid political claims

In the United States, the FBI returned records to former President Donald Trump that had been taken from his Mar-a-Lago estate during a search in August 2022. The search was part of an investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents following his departure from the presidency in January 2021. White House officials indicated that around 15 boxes were loaded onto Air Force One to be returned to Florida. Alina Habba, a counselor to Trump, stated that these items were his possessions and needed to be returned to him. The White House did not confirm the nature of the documents, leaving questions about whether classified materials were among those returned. Earlier, Trump had publicly criticized the FBI's actions, claiming they were unlawful and questioning the motives behind the investigation, which he labeled as politically motivated. After the search, Trump’s legal team asserted that he had already returned all classified documents, but the FBI still carried out the search warrant, leading to the seizure of approximately 33 boxes of files. The ongoing dispute over the classification and handling of the documents has led to broader discussions about presidential powers and accountability. In light of the FBI's return of the documents, Trump celebrated the news, stating that they would eventually be part of his presidential library, further framing the issue as an attack against him by political adversaries. This controversial situation continues to fuel discussions around the legality and implications of presidential document handling.