What should we make of the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago?

David Plazas, Nashville Tennessean
·3 min read

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen:

After reports emerged that the FBI raided the Florida home of former President Donald Trump on Monday, speculation, accusations and pontification ensued.

Fellow opinion editors across the USA TODAY Network published commentary on what it meant and what the fallout might be.

Among two of the most provocative headlines:

Meanwhile, USA TODAY Network Tennessee columnist Cameron Smith chose to write an essay that this raid could become a cautionary tale if the Department of Justice under Attorney General Merrick Garland overplays its hand.

Yes, Smith mentioned Hillary Clinton's emails and Hunter Biden, but his main point is about routing out political bias in the FBI.

Whether it is directed at Democrats or Republicans, the investigation could further polarize the country. Then again, it could also lead to finding some truths, but how we talk to each other about those truths is another matter.

"Garland may choose to take a legal shot at Trump, but he can’t afford to miss," Smith writes. "Good prosecutors take time to build their case. By executing the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, Garland has put himself on the clock to charge Trump."

If you haven't read Smith's work before, you will also find several links to his past work in this column. He started writing for our readers a year ago. He is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised husband and father of three who now lives in Nolensville and is training to be a foster parent. He is also an attorney and former political adviser to congressional Republicans and former Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama.

He brings a thoughtful take to issues, whether he is writing about Dave Chappelle, Joe Biden, his own family or Greta Van Fleet. Check his work out, leave a comment and send him an email.

Scroll to read Smith's latest column.

More compelling reads of the week

  • Harpeth Hall recently updated its philosophy on students' gender expression, which prompted some backlash. Head of School Jess Hill writes in a guest opinion essay that Harpeth Hall is still an all-girls school that is having serious conversations about evolving cultural issues and inclusion.

  • It's now official: Nashville lost the 2024 Republican National Convention to Milwaukee after an intense few weeks that saw mounting opposition from Metro Council members and possible new incentives from the Tennessee General Assembly. There's fear that lawmakers will retaliate, but, in my latest column, I encourage leaders to work together, especially on the critical issue of the affordable housing crisis.

  • The group Patients for Patient Safety U.S. is calling for accountability of medical institutions such as hospitals where medical errors are made and not reported. The authors Susan E. Sheridan and Beth Daley Ullem cite the case of RaDonda Vaught, the former Vanderbilt University Medical Center nurse who administered the wrong drug to a patient with fatal results.

  • Republican state Rep. Sam Whitson and Democratic state Rep. Darren Jernigan co-wrote an essay about how they agree that Tennessee should eliminate onerous and duplicative requirements on teachers that are stumbling blocks to educators' success.

Thank you for reading and let me know what you think!

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee. Email him at dplazas@tennessean.com, call him at (615) 259-8063 or tweet to him at @davidplazas. Subscribe to a USA TODAY Network - Tennessee publication.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mar-a-Lago: What should we make of the FBI search of Trump's home?