U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Thursday released several procedural documents related to the FBI’s search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. The newly unsealed document was part of the warrant application and was among several documents, largely procedural, that the judge unsealed Thursday.
Previously, search warrant documents only listed federal statutes, including the broad law known as the Espionage Act. And the documents released so far have made it clear that Trump and others around him face potential legal exposure, including possible obstruction of justice.
But the specific language about “voluntary retention” could point to the role of the former president, who would have been allowed to possess national defense documents while in office, but not once he left for his private club and residence in Palm Beach , Florida.
In the documents, prosecutors also argued that they had to keep the search warrant paperwork secret before last Monday’s search, “because the integrity of the ongoing investigation could be compromised and evidence could be destroyed “.
The filings include the Justice Department’s motion to seal the warrant documents, the order granting that sealing request, and the criminal cover sheet.
The cover also specifies that the Department of Justice requested the search of Mar-a-Lago believing they could find evidence of these crimes and recover illegally possessed items.
Also Thursday, Reinhart set in motion the possible release of a heavily redacted version of the search affidavit at Mar-a-Lago.
The judge plans to hear more from the Justice Department next week about how investigators want to keep confidential the document that describes their investigative steps and methods leading up to the need for the search.
Reinhart said he was still not convinced the entire affidavit should not be released to the public.
“I’m not prepared to find that the affidavit should be completely sealed” based on the record it has now, Reinhart said, adding that there are “portions” that could be unsealed.
Prosecutors will have an opportunity to propose redactions and explain why each piece of information should be kept from the public eye, Reinhart said. These proposals will be presented on August 25.