Trump says FBI searched estate in major escalation of probe Transcription

Keith: (00:00)
This morning, we’re waiting to hear from the FBI after federal agents execute a search warrant on former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate up in Palm Beach. CBS4’s Nicole Lauren joins us live now from the FBI office in Miramar with the latest developments. Nicole?

Nicole Lauren: (00:15)
Yeah. Hey, there. Good morning, Keith. And the former president did confirm that there was a federal probe at his Mar-a-Lago estate yesterday evening. Now, he was not home at the time of the search. He was seen leaving Trump Tower in New York City. But let’s take a look at some aerial views of the scene late last night, you could see a very large police presence. Now, we can tell you, CBS4 did reach out to FBI’s Miami office who had no comment about Monday’s search. A US law enforcement familiar with the search tells CBS News the Secret Service was notified shortly before the warrant was officially served. They facilitated the FBI’s entry into the estate, but had no participation beyond that.

Nicole Lauren: (00:59)
Two sources tells CBS News it’s related to records missing from the National Archives. CBS reported back in February that the Archives did ask the Department of Justice to investigate Trump’s handling of White House records. Now, not far from Mar-a-Lago, supporters of the former president turned out in droves to express their frustration over word of the search. We saw these vehicles just outside the estate, but there were other groups who did give us a hard time as we worked to bring you this developing story. Now, in a statement, the former president called this search “prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the justice system, and an attack by radical left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for president in 2024.”

Nicole Lauren: (01:48)
The former president went on to say, “They even broke into my safe.” Now CBS News reports the Biden White House was not given any notice of this raid. The president, as you may know, was in Kentucky yesterday, touring flood damage. The senior White House official did say that some learned about the search by “old media and some from social media.” Now, the House Select Committee that’s currently investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol is currently not commenting on the search of the former president’s estate. We are in constant communication with our colleagues at CBS News. As we learn more about this investigation, we’ll update you on air and online as well. We’re live in Miramar. Nicole Lauren, CBS4 This Morning.