Judge unseals DOJ's application for Mar-a-Lago search warrant stating 'evidence of a crime' and orders DOJ to prepare REDACTED version of Trump raid affidavit giving the government one WEEK to reveal what information it wants to black out

  • News outlets are asking a judge to unseal additional materials
  • The government already released the search warrant authorities obtained
  • Trump attorney Christina Bobb, who was present during the raid earlier this month, said she planned to be in the courtroom  
  • US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, who signed off on warrant, presiding
  • DOJ official Jay Bratt said there was 'real concern' for safety of witnesses 
  • He said The the investigation 'in its early stages' 

A federal judge on Thursday told the Justice Department to prepare a redacted version of the affidavit that undergirded the FBI's raid on Mar-a-Lago – opening the door to more public information on the probe that preceded the move.

US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, who signed off on search warrant for the August 8 raid, put off a final decision on whether to put out the document, which media outlets and allies of President Donald Trump were seeking following the extraordinary raid.

He told the government to come back with proposed redactions, after a Justice Department official argued that putting out information on witnesses could hamper future cooperators or endanger those who were providing information. 

The judge also made comments suggesting he would weigh in favor of putting out additional information, as media organizations are seeking.

He said he was 'not prepared to find the affidavit should be fully sealed,' adding that 'there are portions of it that could, at least, presumptively be unsealed.' That came despite the government stressing the risks involved, an stating that a heavily redacted document would be virtually meaningless.

A judge unsealed a warrant application for the FBI search at Mar-a-Lago that cited 'evidence of a crime.' He ordered the government to prepare a redacted version of the affidavit that served as underlying information

A judge unsealed a warrant application for the FBI search at Mar-a-Lago that cited 'evidence of a crime.' He ordered the government to prepare a redacted version of the affidavit that served as underlying information

The judge also ordered additional documents be unsealed Thursday, although not the affidavit that presumably contains a trove of information about the case the government is building. That includes procedural information which includes the government's motion to seal a search warrant, the court's order granting the motion, and a criminal cover sheet for the warrant.

One of those, the 'Application for a warrant by telephone or other reliable electronic means,' states as its basis 'evidence of a crime.'

Another checked bocks states the agent's reason to believe there is 'contraband, fruits of crime, or other items illegally possessed.' Boxes containing that boilerplate language were both checked.

A view of the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, before a Federal judge holds a hearing on the motion to unseal the search warrant on former President Donald Trump's home, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. August 18, 2022. A judge will rule on whether to unseal an affidavit that preceded the raid

A view of the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, before a Federal judge holds a hearing on the motion to unseal the search warrant on former President Donald Trump's home, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. August 18, 2022. A judge will rule on whether to unseal an affidavit that preceded the raid

Under a section on violations, the warrant application cites three alleged crimes: 'Willful retention of national defense information,' as well as 'Concealment or removal of government records' and 'Obstruction of federal investigation.' It references the affidavit, and the applying special agent's name is redacted.

The government also unsealed the request by the U.S. Attorney’s office to seal the search warrant and all accompanying documents.

‘The United States submits that there is good cause because the integrity of the ongoing investigation might be compromised, and evidence might be destroyed,’ prosecutors wrote.

Justice Department official Jay Bratt, arguing in favor of the seal, said there was 'real concern not just for the safety of these witnesses but to chill other witnesses who may come forward and cooperate,' according to the Washington Post.

The investigation 'in its early stages,' he said, there was significant grand jury material that must remain under seal. 

He said the specific information provided by sources could be used to out their identities, despite any efforts to redact material. 

The affidavit would reveal the government's claims of probable cause that a crime may have been committed relating to the removal and storage of a trove of classified material after former President Donald Trump left office.

Trump spokesman Taylor Brudowich called for the release of the full, un-redacted affidavit, and called the law enforcement raid a 'break-in.'

'Pres. Trump has made his view clear that the American people should be permitted to see the un-redacted affidavit related to the raid and break-in of his home. Today, magistrate Judge Reinhard rejected the DOJ’s cynical attempt to hide the whole affidavit from Americans,' he wrote.

'However, no redactions should be necessary and the whole affidavit should be released, given the Democrats’ penchant for using redactions to hide government corruption, just like they did with the Russia hoax,' he said. 

He was referencing fights over redactions in the Mueller report, where Democrats themselves fumed about a summary released by former AG Bill Barr before the release of a declassified version of the report. 

TV camera crews and national media members swarmed a federal Palm Beach courthouse on Thursday in anticipation of a judge's ruling on whether to unseal an affidavit that preceded the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago this month.

Pro-Trump protesters joined into the fray, as media outlets seek to unseal information that laid the foundation for the extraordinary raid on the private Florida club where Trump lives and spends part of the year.

Trucks bearing Gadsden, U.S., and Trump 2024 flags were circling the area. 

The judge who approved the raid, and who allowed for the release of the search warrant that contained information about the trove of materials agents removed, was set to hear arguments at 1pm on releasing the foundational materials.

The Justice Department is resisting the move, which is being pursued by media outlets, arguing disclosure would harm the ongoing investigation.

'The fact that this investigation implicates highly classified materials further underscores the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and exacerbates the potential for harm if information is disclosed to the public prematurely or improper,' DOJ argued, pointing to the reliance on witness testimony.

Homeland Security Police officers stand guard outside the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, before a Federal judge holds a hearing on the motion to unseal the search warrant on former President Donald Trump's home, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. August 18, 2022

Homeland Security Police officers stand guard outside the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, before a Federal judge holds a hearing on the motion to unseal the search warrant on former President Donald Trump's home, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. August 18, 2022

Trump lawyer Christina Bobb was in the courtroom, where media outlets were seeking to unseal information

Trump lawyer Christina Bobb was in the courtroom, where media outlets were seeking to unseal information

A vehicle painted with the American flag drives past the Paul G. Rogers Federal Courthouse, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

A vehicle painted with the American flag drives past the Paul G. Rogers Federal Courthouse, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

DOJ said unsealing the affidavit posed a risk to witnesses

DOJ said unsealing the affidavit posed a risk to witnesses

'Before the events of this week, not since the Nixon Administration had the federal government wielded its power to seize records from a former President in such a public fashion,' the media outlets argued in their own filing last week.

Trump attorney Christina Bobb, who was present during the raid earlier this month, said she planned to be in the courtroom overseen by US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart.

Homeland Security Police officers stand guard outside the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse amid the media interest in the case.

It came on a day when Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg pleaded guilty to 15 counts of tax and financial fraud in a New York courthouse, just the latest in a skein of legal developments entangling Trump World.

DOJ tells judge ruling on whether to unseal Mar-a-Lago raid investigation is in its 'early stages'

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