News
By Just the News
8-22-22
Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Monday formally rejected the Justice Department’s plea to keep sealed the entire affidavit used for the search warrant to raid former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
In a filing Monday morning, Reinhart, who originally approved the warrant, said he rejects “the government’s argument that the present record justifies keeping the entire affidavit under seal,” Fox News reported.
The decision was expected, considering Reinhart last week ordered the department to deliver a redacted copy of the affidavit.
Justice officials opposed unsealing the entire affidavit, or even a redacted one, arguing such a move would “provide a roadmap” of the investigation into whether Trump had classified White House documents on the estate and could “chill” other possible witnesses.
Read MORE in Just the News
ALSO, this Press Release:
 |
| From Judicial Watch FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: 202-646-5188 August 22, 2022 |
| Court Grants Judicial Watch Request: Orders Partial Release of Trump Raid Affidavit (Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton made the following statement regarding Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart’s latest decision partially granting Judicial Watch’s request to unseal the affidavit and other materials used to justify the unprecedented raid on former President Trump’s home: Judge Reinhart today affirmed his decision to deny the Biden administration’s attempt to keep the affidavit completely sealed. He states in today’s ruling that “given the intense public and historical interest in an unprecedented search of a former President’s residence, the Government has not yet shown that these administrative concerns are sufficient to justify sealing.” In the meantime, the Biden DOJ continues to dishonestly hide its reasons for its abusive and unprecedented raid on the home of former President Trump. We’re glad the court agrees the secrecy must end. The courts should reject the Biden DOJ “modified limited hangout” approach to coming clean about abuse of President Trump. Four additional filings were made public today. Click here. After last week’s hearing in West Palm Beach, FL, the court issued an order which stated: As I ruled from the bench at the conclusion of the hearing, I find that on the present record the Government has not met its burden of showing that the entire affidavit should remain sealed. It is ORDERED that by noon EST on Thursday, August 25, 2022, the Government shall file under seal its proposed redactions along with a legal memorandum setting forth the justification for the proposed redactions. The court also ordered the release of other documents concerning the warrant. Judicial Watch has been in the forefront in the court battle for transparency regarding the abusive FBI raid. On August 9, Judicial Watch filed its motion asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to unseal as soon as possible the search warrant materials used by the FBI to raid President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida (U.S. v. Sealed Search Warrant (Case No. 9:22-mj-08332)). On August 11, the DOJ filed a motion offering to unseal certain warrant materials. On August 12, Judicial Watch Judicial Watch filed President Trump’s public statement with the court, in which he made it clear that he would not oppose the release of documents related to the August 8, 2022, raid. Later that day, the DOJ made a partial release of the Trump raid warrant materials. Initially, the Albany Times Union and the New York Times joined Judicial Watch in filing for the unsealing of the warrant by filing an amicus letter and motion respectively. Other interests later joined in the effort. The Justice Department was ordered by Magistrate Judge Reinhart to respond by August 15 to Judicial Watch’s Motion to Unseal the warrant and supporting materials behind the FBI raid. In its filing, the Justice Department alleged that releasing the affidavit would “cause significant and irreparable damage” to its ongoing criminal investigation. On August 17, Judicial Watch submitted its reply to the DOJ’s effort to keep under seal the affidavit used to justify the controversial raid on the home of former President Trump. Judicial Watch cited former President Trump’s support for the release of the affidavit. ### |
