# Is the Trump raid legal? A Catholic conscience perspective
*2022-08-09*

> Bill Young, a retired FBI analyst, examines the legality of the FBI raid on former President Trump’s home and reflects on what Catholics can do in response, ending with a prayer of Divine Tenderness.

## What happened at Mar-a-Lago?

On August 8, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, Florida. They seized fifteen boxes of material from a safe, but, according to the host, the agents did not review the contents on site. The warrant, signed by a federal judge, was described as narrowly tailored to specific items, as is standard practice for FBI searches.

## Legal concerns from an FBI veteran

Drawing on his ten‑year experience as an FBI financial analyst, Bill explains that a valid warrant must specify the items to be seized and requires probable cause. He notes that agents are generally required to inventory and review seized documents before removal. If the agents took everything without first examining the contents, that could violate the judge’s order. He also questions why the Miami and West Palm Beach districts were not coordinated and wonders which agents—local or from Washington—conducted the raid.

## Why Catholics should respond

Bill urges listeners to exercise their civic duty: vote, support candidates who defend constitutional freedoms, and, if possible, contribute financially to those campaigns. He emphasizes that Catholics must pray for all, including President Trump, his family, and public officials, recalling Christ’s command to pray for our enemies. He also calls for discernment beyond partisan media narratives.

## The Chaplet and Litany of Divine Tenderness

In keeping with the month of August, Bill leads a special prayer called the Chaplet of Divine Tenderness, followed by the Litany of Divine Tenderness. The prayer invokes the Father’s tenderness, the salvific love of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, concluding with the traditional "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…"

## Practical steps for listeners

Bill repeats the concrete actions Catholics can take: 
1. Register and vote in upcoming primaries and midterm elections. 
2. Donate to candidates who protect religious liberty and constitutional rights. 
3. Stay informed by seeking reliable sources and praying regularly for leaders and the nation.

*Our faith calls us to protect justice through informed civic engagement and persistent prayer.*