Retired FBI agent says whistle blower likely turned over evidence leading

Retired FBI agent says ‘whistle-blower’ likely turned over evidence leading to Mar-a-Lago raid

Retired FBI Special Agent Michael Tabman told  it was likely an

Retired FBI Special Agent Michael Tabman told it was likely an “whistle-blower” leaked information to the FBI that led to Monday’s raid on Trump’s home

The FBI raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence on Monday was likely prompted by new information from a “whistle-blower” and a breakdown in cooperation between the agency and the former president, a former agent told .

Retired FBI special agent in charge Michael Tabman, who worked for the agency for 24 years, said a raid of this level of sensitivity had to be authorized by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

“I think someone gave you information that suggests these documents are there,” Tabman said, adding two hypothetical “insider” revelations: “You weren’t told the truth about their existence. You don’t get them if you don’t get them.’

“I believe there was inside information – call it a whistleblower if you will,” he told . “I think either someone told them something or they came across other information that was kind of conclusive to them that they had to go now to get that or they’re not getting it.”

Trump’s Florida residence was searched by the FBI on Monday. It was most likely related to the seizure of official documents reportedly brought to his Palm Beach home after he left office from the White House last year.

Tabman claimed that while there was cooperation between Trump and the FBI at one point, the agency may have come to feel that the former president and his team are “telling them what they want to tell you with limited information.”

According to Tabman, FBI protocol is to proceed with seizures of information once they determine that “voluntary” acquisition is no longer practical.

“You know, everything could disappear,” Tabman said. “You have evidence that you must get before it disappears or moves and you can no longer see it.”

In order to obtain the search warrant, the FBI would need to show a probable cause and conduct the search in a timely manner. Agents can’t just poke around in someone’s home in a case like this, Tabman said.

The FBI on Monday searched Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in apparent connection to an investigation in which he brought official White House documents to Florida after leaving office.  Pictured: The Secret Service stands guard outside an entrance to the Palm Beach residence on Monday evening

The FBI on Monday searched Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in apparent connection to an investigation in which he brought official White House documents to Florida after leaving office. Pictured: The Secret Service stands guard outside an entrance to the Palm Beach residence on Monday evening

1660110489 863 Retired FBI agent says whistle blower likely turned over evidence leading

“I think someone gave them information that suggests those documents are there,” Tabman said. Trump was seen exiting Trump Tower in New York on Monday. He complained about the search: “They even broke into my safe!”

He also claimed the FBI could have gotten the feeling that Trump was simply no longer “fully cooperative” with the investigation – which led to them seeing the raid permit.

Supporters of the former president rallied outside Mar-a-Lago on Monday night to protest the raid and the ongoing investigation into Trump.

Tabman said that while no protocols appeared to have been broken in conducting the raid, it’s still an “unprecedented” move in the sense that the FBI has never searched a former president’s home before.

“I can’t imagine this happening to a former president,” Tabman noted.

“I don’t see any protocols that have been broken in any way,” added the retired FBI special agent. “They must obviously have had a probable cause.”

Republican lawmakers immediately blasted the FBI, President Joe Biden, the Justice Department and its head, Merrick Garland, for conducting the raid.

However, Biden and his associates had no idea about the matter. According to the New York Times, senior White House officials learned about the raid via Twitter.

Tabman told , “I think the Attorney General self-approved it given the sensitivity.”

“You know, maybe he’s delegated back to an assistant attorney general, maybe to avoid publicity since he’s a political appointee,” he added.

Trump supporters flocked to Mar-a-Lago after news of the raid.  Some camped in the beds of their suitcases

Trump supporters flocked to Mar-a-Lago after news of the raid. Some camped in the beds of their suitcases

Getting the green light from Garland is an internal DOJ process, Tabman explained. In addition, once approved, the matter would go before a “neutral third party” judge to authorize the raid based on evidence of a probable cause.

Tabman retired after nearly two and a half decades of FBI service at the Special Agent in Charge level.

He was a member of the FBI-NYPD Organized Crime Task Force and the FBI-NYPD Drug Task Force for eight years. During this time, Tabman served as an ally on numerous arrest and search warrants and wiretapping requests.

Tabman has been involved in a large number of arrests and the execution of search warrants.

During his years in management, Tabman has reviewed affidavits and ordered the execution of arrests and search warrants.