The document, expected by midday, is likely to offer at least some new details about an ongoing criminal investigation that has brought new legal danger to Trump just as it lays the groundwork for yet another presidential bid. Although Justice Department officials are expected to have redacted sensitive details about the witnesses and the scope and direction of the investigation, the affidavit may offer the fullest explanation yet of the events that led to the Aug. 8 investigation into Mar-a -Lago. The leaked document is the redacted form of an affidavit, or affidavit, that the FBI submitted to a judge in order to obtain a warrant to search Trump’s property. Affidavits usually contain vital information about an investigation, with agents explaining to a judge the rationale for why they want to search a particular property and why they believe they are likely to find evidence of a possible crime there. But the affidavits typically remain sealed during pending investigations, making the judge’s decision to release portions of them all the more striking. Story continues below ad
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In recognition of the unusual public interest in the investigation, US Judge Bruce Rinehart on Thursday ordered the department to release a redacted version of the affidavit by Friday. The directive came hours after federal law enforcement officials filed under seal the portions of the affidavit they want to keep secret as their investigation progresses. The corrections proposed by the Justice Department are likely to be extensive given the sensitivity of the investigation, reducing the likelihood that the document will provide a comprehensive look at the basis for the unprecedented investigation or important information about the direction of the investigation. But even a redacted affidavit may contain at least a few new revelations about the investigation and is likely to explain why federal agents who spent months trying to retrieve sensitive government records from Mar-a-Lago finally felt compelled to obtain a warrant. research. The leaked document is the redacted form of an affidavit, or affidavit, that the FBI submitted to a judge in order to obtain a warrant to search Trump’s property. Affidavits usually contain vital information about an investigation, with agents explaining to a judge the rationale for why they want to search a particular property and why they believe they are likely to find evidence of a possible crime there. But the affidavits typically remain sealed during pending investigations, making the judge’s decision to release portions of them all the more striking. Trending Stories
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Story continues below ad 2:17 Republicans rally for Trump despite FBI investigation and legal woes Republican rallies for Trump despite FBI investigation and legal woes Documents that have already been made public show that the FBI repossessed 11 sets of classified documents, including information marked at the top secret level. They also show that federal agents are investigating possible violations of three different federal laws, including one governing the collection, transmission or loss of defense information under the Espionage Act. The other statutes address the concealment, mutilation, or removal of records and the destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations. It’s possible that the affidavit, particularly in its informal form, could shed light on key unanswered questions, including why sensitive presidential documents — classified documents, among them — were moved to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House and why Trump and his representatives have not provided the full tranche of material to the National Archives and Records Administration despite repeated requests. It could also provide additional details about the exchange between Trump and the FBI, including a subpoena for documents issued last spring and a visit in June by FBI and Justice Department officials to assess how the materials were stored . . Story continues below ad The Justice Department had earlier disputed arguments by media organizations to release any part of the affidavit, saying the disclosure could contain private information about witnesses and investigative tactics. But Reinhart, acknowledging the extraordinary public interest in the investigation, said last week he was unwilling to keep the entire document sealed and told federal officials to privately submit to him the corrections he wanted to make. 2:04 Judge orders DOJ to redact Trump warrant affidavit from public release Judge orders DOJ to redact Trump warrant affidavit from public release – August 18, 2022 In his order Thursday, Reinhart said the department had made compelling arguments to leave sealed large portions of the document that, if released, would reveal grand jury information. the identity of witnesses and “non-accusers”; and details of the “strategy, direction, scope, sources and methods of the investigation.” But he also said he was satisfied “that the government has met its burden of showing that its proposed amendments are narrowly tailored to serve the government’s legitimate interest in the integrity of the ongoing investigation and are the least burdensome alternative to sealing the entire of the affidavit”. © 2022 The Canadian Press
