January 6

Donald Trump has claimed the Republicans could win “many additional seats, both in the House & Senate ” as a result of the FBI ‘s raid on his Florida residence.

Agents entered Mar-a-Lago on August 8 as part of an investigation into a number of possible crimes, including a potential breach of the Espionage Act . The raid sparked a furious reaction from Trump and his political allies, some of whom argued the operation was politically motivated .

On Monday, the former president predicted the investigation will boost Republicans at the upcoming November midterms.

Posting on his Truth Social website, he said: “Republicans could win many additional seats, both in the House & Senate, because of the strong backlash over the raid at [Mar]-a-Lago.

“Polls are showing that some lost Republican territory over the last number of weeks has been more than made up with the unannounced Break In by the FBI, which should never have happened!”

The post received over 26,000 likes and 7,300 “retruths,” the Truth Social equivalent of a retweet.

Trump also shared a number of news stories suggesting the Mar-a-Lago raid could boost the Republicans politically.

One, from Newsweek , reported on a new Trafalgar Group and Convention of States Action poll which found more than 80 percent of Republicans say they are more likely to vote following the FBI operation.

Commenting on the poll, Mark Meckler, president of the Convention of States Action, said: “Independent and Republican voters are united in their outrage about this unprecedented and tragic event in American history.

“This gestapo-style injustice has created a voting surge that is so significant, the polling doesn’t even begin to reflect what is coming from grassroots voters in November.”

On Monday, Trump also claimed the FBI had seized his passports during the Mar-a-Lago raid.

On Truth Social, he wrote: “Wow! In the raid by the FBI of Mar-a-Lago, they stole my three Passports (one expired), along with everything else. This is an assault on a political opponent at a level never seen before in our Country. Third World!”

However, a Justice Department official told NBC News the passports have been returned to Trump and are no longer in the FBI’s possession.

During the Mar-a-Lago raid, FBI agents seized 11 sets of classified documents, four of which were marked “top secret.”

Trump allegedly took 15 boxes of documents with him when he left the White House, which the National Archives and Records Administration demanded he return.

After coming to suspect the papers included classified information, the Department of Justice opened an investigation.

Sources close to the investigation told The Washington Post there are fears the documents include classified papers on nuclear weapons .

The exact nature of what the FBI uncovered in the raid has yet to be made public.

After Mar-a-Lago was raided, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security said there had been an ” increase in violent threats posted on social media against federal officials .”

They said some of the threats were “specific in identifying proposed targets, tactics, or weaponry,” with a number singling out the judge who approved the search.

On Friday, 42-year-old Ricky Shiffer , armed and clad in body armor, was killed after trying to breach an FBI building in Ohio.

Speaking to NBC News, law enforcement insiders said they believe Shiffer was in Washington, D.C., during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, though he was not arrested.

Donald Trump has been contacted for comment.

First making its premiere on January 3, the three-night docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly has created quite the storm.

Featuring interviews by alleged victims and members R. Kelly’s inner circle, allegations of abuse, mind control and what is described as a “sex cult” is brought to light in the 6-part Lifetime docuseries.

“Why didn’t anyone notice? We all noticed, no one cared because we were black girls,” Mikka Kendall said in the show’s promo.

Born Robert Sylvester Kelly, the singer is best known for his involvement with 1992 music group Public Announcement. He released his first solo album in 1993, “12 Play.”

Sources close to the 51-year-old singer/songwriter told TMZ Sunday that he did not watch any of the docuseries; however, said he was ‘disgusted.’

Described as a “vendetta,” R. Kelly’s team said that the 51-year-old did not recognize half of the individuals who appeared on the series, and those he did recognize, had previous personal or professional hatred toward him, according to TMZ ‘s report.

The series concluded Saturday night; however, Lifetime will begin airing reruns Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET.

When the show first premiered, social media began to flood with support — even tagging the Me Too Movement — for the women involved.

“I absolutely loved this docuseries! You guys did a fantastic job! I hope this man gets what he deserves soon,” one Twitter user wrote. “You definitely helped me understand this #metoo movement and understanding the victims’ side of the story. Just wow.”

“Thank you for giving these women’s voices a platform,” a user added. “To the documentary makers: you’ve done a huge part in where so many have failed these women and girls including the justice system, industry collaborators, executives, complicit employees and allies of this monster.”

No criminal charges have been filed against the disgraced singer since the premiere of the show; however, one source close to R. Kelly told TMZ: “He’s going to sue everybody who had anything to do with this.”

The executive producer of the docuseries, Dream Hampton told Shadow and Act that she is “at war” with the R&B singer.

“When I said I’m at war with R. Kelly, this is what I meant. I don’t ever want to underestimate him,” Hampton, a 48-year-old filmmaker from Detroit, said. “This is a man who has built systems around his abuse, which is something that you’ll see in the docuseries.”

After the Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly , Chance the Rapper composed a tweet Wednesday to say how “ashamed” he was of people he called “friends.”

“In the past 2 days, I’ve heard too many stories of domestic abuse, sexual violence and rape perpetrated by people I called friends,” the rapper tweeted. “I am ashamed of ya’ll. These stories will be amplified and your victims will receive the justice they deserve.”

The 25-year-old issued an apology Saturday for working with R. Kelly on previous projects–calling it a “mistake” in the docuseries. Chance the Rapper released his single “Somewhere in Paradise,” which featured the disgraced singer, in 2015.

“We’re programmed to really be hypersensitive to black male oppression. It’s just prevalent in all media,” the Chicago-born rapper said in Surviving R. Kelly. “But black women are exponentially a higher oppressed and violated group of people, like just in comparison with the whole world … Maybe I didn’t care because I didn’t value the accusers’s stories because they were black women.”

Since the release of the docuseries on January 3, a criminal investigation has been opened in Georgia, according to a TMZ report .

It isn’t clear whether investigations were in contact with R. Kelly or his attorneys, but the rapper has called the docu-series a “vendetta” against him and claimed he would sue everyone involved.

An arrest warrant for R. Kelly’s former manager, James Mason, was issued after the allegedly threatening the family of one of the accusers.

Mason was cited in an incident report for threatening Joycelyn Savage’s father, Timothy. “I’m going to do harm to you and your family, when I see you I’m gonna get you, I’m going to f**king kill you,” Mason was quoted as saying in the police report, obtained by CNN .

The threat took place in May. The Savage family has been previously vocal about R. Kelly’s relationship with Joycelyn Savage, alleging the R&B singer uses her as a sex slave.

She continues to live with R. Kelly and has denied the allegations.

“I just want everybody to know—my parents and everybody in the world—that I’m totally fine,” Joycelyn says in a video published by TMZ in 2017. “I’m happy where I’m at and everything is OK with me.”

The Savage family deny the video and say she was manipulated into the recording.