In recent days, Trump’s allies have stepped up their calls for Merrick Garland to unseal the document, which would reveal the evidence prosecutors presented to demonstrate they had probable cause to believe Trump had committed crimes at his home — the standard they had to meet to secure the search warrant.
Earlier this week, the Justice Department asked a federal court opposing unsealing in south Florida to unseal the search warrant and several accompanying legal documents showing that FBI agents removed 11 sets of classified records from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday.
Several of the records seized were classified as “top secret” – the highest level of classification available for U.S. national security information.
Government documents like these are usually kept in special facilities since their disclosure could threaten national security.
This is another reason, the Justice Department said on Monday, for keeping the affidavit sealed since the investigation involves “highly classified materials.”
In addition, to cover sheets and the government’s motion to seal, the agency said it would not object to the release of other sealed documents related to the search.
It was revealed on Friday that the Justice Department was investigating three laws, including one that prohibits the possession of national defense information under the Espionage Act and another that makes it a crime to knowingly obstruct an investigation by destroying, concealing, or falsifying records.
According to Trump, he had a standing order to declassify all of the materials found in his home.
Given the Justice Department’s policy not to comment on pending investigations, Garland’s decision to unseal the warrant was highly unusual.
In Cincinnati, Ohio, an armed man with right-wing views tried to breach an FBI office the same day Garland announced he would seek to unseal the warrant.
After a car chase, police shot an armed Ohio man dead.
In addition to the recent violence and threats against the FBI, prosecutors on Monday cited other reasons not to release the affidavit.
The high-profile nature of this case makes the disclosure of witness identities particularly sensitive, as it may affect witnesses’ willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
Release affidavit.
what would this untrustworthy/characterless DOJ be hiding?
in reading the article-you mentioned the proof to declassify the aforementioned documents-what about federal law -act of privacy?with our us constitution -youre innocent til proven guilty-would you honestly condone treating all us pres an congress included -the way that you treated trump-no one is above the law!
This is such bullcrap. Once again, we have another reason to dislike the Democrats. Cheaters, thieves and sketchy politics. Democrats are desperate that’s for sure. Bye bye Democrats the gigs up!
Trump has the right guarantee to him by the constitution to face his accusers. I suspect the Biden instructed FBI will plant damaging evidence into his seized documents. The DOJ is dirty and says numbers and has nothing to loose that is why he dies not want the document open. Republicans need to find the legal loophole to force the document open before the DOJ n FBI alters or replaces it with additional info they plant into the Confiscated boxes of material. Then Mitch McMconell needs to be investigated for Nancy Pelosi financially supporting his re-election. Now Mitch owes Nancy his vote and support on issues that Republicans vote against. Nancy campaign for his re-election n I know this because I received many notifications from her before his election. Are you aware of FB has a new program in their platform called “protect Facebook” it is shutting down every Facebook account that are active in posting anti-Biden material?? Well I am one that they shut down because I pasted n posted from news posting and they out right told me that I am to political for their platform. All this can be verified on google. They told me I can unlock my account n they gave the instruction and I tried over 100 times but I am completely locked out of my account that I have had since at least 2009 and I loose my personal info n post n friends list. Then they told me in 30 day my account will be permanently deleted from FB. I need help to solve this problem because Trump supporters are being blocked just so Biden’s crazy stuff is spread.