Documents recently unsealed in the investigation concerning classified documents at Mar-a-Lago reveal that the FBI was authorized to use deadly force during their raid at former President Donald Trump’s estate, showing the shocking measures taken by federal law enforcement in the 2022 operation.

At the heart of the newly public files is a directive that permitted FBI agents, if necessary, to use lethal methods against perceived threats. The authorization came as part of the operation to recover classified materials allegedly retained unlawfully by Trump after his presidency. Documents suggest preparedness for potentially violent confrontations, including scenarios involving Trump’s security detail, which consists of former Secret Service personnel. This aspect of the plan points to an expectation of resistance, although such resistance seems implausible.

Legal commentator Julie Kelly compared the measures taken to those of a totalitarian regime. “Armed FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage Secret Service if necessary,” Kelly tweeted.

The  Mar-a-Lago raid , conducted on August 8, 2022, marked a significant and unprecedented event in U.S. history, as the residence of former President Trump was searched by the FBI. The operation was part of an ongoing investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents after his presidency ended in January 2021.

The search warrant, approved by a federal judge, was based on evidence suggesting that Trump had retained classified materials at his Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago, in violation of federal laws governing the handling of national security information. The FBI’s raid was intended to secure the materials, which allegedly were not returned despite multiple requests from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

The raid was controversial and politically charged, leading to widespread criticism from Trump and his supporters, who described the action as a politicized move by the Biden administration. Republicans argued that the raid was an unnecessary escalation in enforcing laws regarding the handling of classified materials, traditionally handled through subpoenas and cooperation with involved parties.

In response to the raid, Trump claimed he was being unfairly targeted as part of a broader effort to damage his political standing ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Merrick Garland, stated that the decision to conduct the raid was not made lightly and was based on specific credible evidence that classified documents were improperly stored and that all less intrusive means of obtaining the documents had been exhausted.

The start of Trump’s trial, originally scheduled for May 20, 2024, was  delayed indefinitely  in early May. U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, made the decision to postpone the trial. Judge Cannon cited the interconnected nature of numerous pre-trial motions, discovery disputes, and Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) considerations as compelling reasons to vacate the scheduled May 20 trial date. Instead, the judge alluded to the need for additional time to ensure a fair and comprehensive legal process.

Trump is currently facing several felony charges in four separate criminal cases. It remains unclear whether the trial will begin before the presidential election in November.