AG Merrick Garland held a press conference regarding the search warrant executed on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property.
The Justice Department has asked a court to unseal the warrant the FBI received before searching the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday, acknowledging the extraordinary public interest in the case.
The request was striking because such documents traditionally remain sealed during a pending investigation. But the Justice Department appeared to recognize that its silence since the search had created a vacuum for bitter attacks from the former president and his allies, and Garland felt it wise to respond to the widespread demands for details about what the led to the FBI action.
“The public’s clear and powerful interest in understanding what occurred under these circumstances weighs heavily in favor of unsealing,” said a motion filed in federal court in Florida on Thursday seeking the the unsealing.
Garland also cited the fact that Trump himself had provided the first public confirmation of the FBI search, and the attorney general said that disclosing information about it now would not harm the court’s functions.
Garland also said he personally approved the search warrant, which was part of an ongoing Justice Department investigation into the discovery of classified White House records recovered from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this year.
It was not immediately clear when — or if — the unsealing request might be granted or when the documents could be released. Trump will also have a chance to object.
The attorney general condemned verbal attacks on FBI and Justice Department personnel over the search.
OK, that’s pretty significant right there.
One hopes that means election issues were considered.
We also know it was 15 boxes were taken and it was “national security” stuff.
And supposedly the FBI were informed of this stuff’s existence and it’s location by someone who found the boxes and is thus at Trump’s house.
So… PR move by Trump himself? He has the nuclear launch codes or a list of all Russian moles, and obstructs knowing they’ll have to do this and he’ll make it look really bad?Report
What election…?
2022? Trump isn’t running.
2024? That’s 27 months away. If a potential candidate can’t be investigated 27 months prior to an election, everyone will start declaring their candidacy.Report
Did Lucy pull the [nuclear] football after all?
TRUMP ADMIN WEIRDLY EAGER TO HAND THE SAUDIS NUCLEAR SECRETS
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/trump-admin-eager-to-hand-the-saudis-nuclear-secrets
Time will tell, I guess.Report
Trump only had top secret nuclear documents at his house as private citizens are want to do.Report
Trump having the chance to object is fascinating. If he does, it means Garland called his bluff.Report
They’re playing different games.
Trump has a box full of nuclear secrets that are worthless to him. Garland wants it.
Trump would like to have various investigations dropped. Or alternatively, he’d like Garland to TAKE the boxes. Or at the very worst, burn lots of lawyer time chasing them and not Jan 6th.
Not taking the boxes means we have nuclear secrets in a box in Trump’s basement (and also have lawyers tied up). Taking the boxes gives Trump the chance to drama queen.Report
I’m fairly sure the DoJ is a big enough and talented enough bunch to pursue this And the January 6th investigation.Report