Ex-US President Donald Trump has said his Florida home was “raided” by the FBI, and that agents broke open a safe.
Mr Trump said in a statement that Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach was “occupied by a large group of FBI agents”.
The search was reportedly connected to an investigation into Mr Trump’s handling of official papers.
The dramatic escalation of law enforcement scrutiny of Mr Trump comes as he prepares for a possible third presidential run in 2024.
According to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, Mr Trump was in Trump Tower in New York City at the time of Monday’s reported raid.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during the America First Agenda Summi in Washington, DC
“These are dark times for our Nation,” Mr Trump’s statement began.
He said he had co-operated with all relevant government agencies and so the “unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate”.
Mr Trump said it amounted to “prosecutorial misconduct” and “the weaponization of the Justice System” to prevent him from running for the White House again.
“Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries,” he said. “Sadly, America has now become one of those Countries, corrupt at a level not seen before.
Meanwhile, the White House has also said it had no advance information of the FBI’s search.
A senior White House official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, told CBS News:
No advance knowledge — some [in the White House] learned from old media, some from social media.”
Details later….
