WASHINGTON: The Justice Department on Friday released a heavily redacted copy of the affidavit that persuaded a U.S. judge to authorize the FBI’s astonishing search of former President Donald’s Florida residence Asset.
Government lawyers had opposed releasing the affidavit, but the judge ordered it unsealed with redactions that the Justice Department said were necessary to protect an ongoing investigation involving national security. .
FBI agents raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida on August 8, seizing boxes containing a large amount of highly classified documents that Trump had not returned to the government despite multiple demands and a subpoena to do so.
The unredacted version of the affidavit likely explains in detail what the department is investigating in relation to Trump and could potentially reveal sources.
But judge Bruce Reinhart accepted Justice Department arguments that there was a “compelling” need to obscure significant parts of the document.
Reinhart had ordered the redacted affidavit released on Friday at noon (4:00 p.m. GMT) – and the fevered anticipation surrounding its release caused the federal court’s website to crash.
Legal authorities objected to unsealing the document, saying it would require redactions “so extensive as to render the remaining unsealed text devoid of significant content”.
But the judge said his release served the public interest, as the case involves the unprecedented search of the home of a former president.
The warrant for the raid cited three criminal statutes, including one under the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime to unlawfully obtain or retain national security information, and another under obstructing a federal investigation.
Trump, who is eyeing another run for the White House in 2024, vehemently denounced the FBI raid.
“Political Hacks and Thugs had no right under the Presidential Archives Act to storm Mar-a-Lago and steal anything in sight, including passports and documents privileged,” Trump said on social media Friday.
“They even broke into my safe with a safecracker – Can you believe it?” he wrote. “We currently live in a lawless country, which also happens to be a failed nation!”
The former president filed a lawsuit on Monday asking a court to appoint an independent party, or “special master,” to screen files seized in the FBI raid for documents protected by personal privilege.
Appointing a special master could potentially block investigators’ access to the documents, especially if he accepts Trump’s claims that most were privileged.
Also, it could interfere if the Justice Department considered accusing Trump of obstructing their investigations by refusing to turn over the documents.
The former president’s lawsuit was not filed in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the original warrant was issued, but in more distant Fort Pierce, where the only judge is a Trump appointee. .
Government lawyers had opposed releasing the affidavit, but the judge ordered it unsealed with redactions that the Justice Department said were necessary to protect an ongoing investigation involving national security. .
FBI agents raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida on August 8, seizing boxes containing a large amount of highly classified documents that Trump had not returned to the government despite multiple demands and a subpoena to do so.
The unredacted version of the affidavit likely explains in detail what the department is investigating in relation to Trump and could potentially reveal sources.
But judge Bruce Reinhart accepted Justice Department arguments that there was a “compelling” need to obscure significant parts of the document.
Reinhart had ordered the redacted affidavit released on Friday at noon (4:00 p.m. GMT) – and the fevered anticipation surrounding its release caused the federal court’s website to crash.
Legal authorities objected to unsealing the document, saying it would require redactions “so extensive as to render the remaining unsealed text devoid of significant content”.
But the judge said his release served the public interest, as the case involves the unprecedented search of the home of a former president.
The warrant for the raid cited three criminal statutes, including one under the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime to unlawfully obtain or retain national security information, and another under obstructing a federal investigation.
Trump, who is eyeing another run for the White House in 2024, vehemently denounced the FBI raid.
“Political Hacks and Thugs had no right under the Presidential Archives Act to storm Mar-a-Lago and steal anything in sight, including passports and documents privileged,” Trump said on social media Friday.
“They even broke into my safe with a safecracker – Can you believe it?” he wrote. “We currently live in a lawless country, which also happens to be a failed nation!”
The former president filed a lawsuit on Monday asking a court to appoint an independent party, or “special master,” to screen files seized in the FBI raid for documents protected by personal privilege.
Appointing a special master could potentially block investigators’ access to the documents, especially if he accepts Trump’s claims that most were privileged.
Also, it could interfere if the Justice Department considered accusing Trump of obstructing their investigations by refusing to turn over the documents.
The former president’s lawsuit was not filed in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the original warrant was issued, but in more distant Fort Pierce, where the only judge is a Trump appointee. .
