Donald Trump Mar-a-lago raid: 4 times FBI investigated US presidents

Former US president Donald Trump said, in a lengthy statement, that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had raided his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The Republican has been investigated by the FBI, for various issues, while holding office and the scrutiny appears to be far from over as Trump is the subject of a Congressional hearing seeking to establish links between him and the Jan 6 Capitol riots. 

However, this is not the first time a US President has been investigated by the FBI. Here are five other instances when the leader of the nation came under the investigative body’s scrutiny.

Nixon and Watergate 

The Jan 6 investigation is being touted as the next Watergate, while the original took place when Richard Nixon was president. A group of men broke into the Democratic Party headquarters and an investigation into the incident uncovered abuse of presidential power including recording meetings and instructing the CIA to block the Feds’ investigation. 

Nixon ultimately resigned and reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are credited with uncovering the Watergate scandal, with the help of a source who remained unnamed for the longest time. 

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However, the source – only known as Deep Throat so far – turned out to be Mark Felt, the number two man in the FBI during the Watergate scandal. Felt felt it was the job of the feds to get the whole truth out and assisted the reporters as a result. 

Reagan-Iran-Contra 

During Ronald Reagan’s presidency, the sale of weapons from the US to Iran was banned. However, in the 1980s, the US made sales in secret, using the money to help Contra rebels overthrow the Nicaraguan government. 

The FBI investigated several people in the Reagan administration. though the then-president claimed he’d no knowledge of such deals being brokered. Deputy National Security Advisor John Poindexter and his aide, Oliver North were among several officials who were indicted and charged. 

Clinton – Whitewater – Lewinsky

Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, were investigated for wrongdoings connected to a real-estate investment in Arkansas. The project known as Whitewater didn’t come through, and many involved were accused of wrongdoing or fraud. 

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A lengthy investigation cleared all members of the Clinton administration who’d been looked into. 

Again, Clinton was investigated for sexual harassment, when Paula Jones, a former Arkansas state employee brought a case against him. During this time, the then-president’s affair with Monica Lewinsky came to light. 

Bush – CIA leaks 

During George W Bush’s presidency, several officials in the administration were accused of illegally leaking the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame, threatening her career and safety. Plame’s husband was critical of Bush’s stance in Iraq. 

Many believed that the leak was retaliation against Plame’s husband’s stance. Ultimately, a man named Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who worked for then-VP Dick Cheney, was convicted for lying to Feds investigating the matter.