Mar A Lago Affidavit Judge To Rule On Whether Key Trump Document Is Unsealed

Comment WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A federal judge is hearing arguments Thursday on whether to unseal the affidavit central to last week’s FBI probe of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, where agents said they recovered several boxes with classified government material. ONE A Justice Department official told the judge that his investigation is “open and in its early stages.” Unsealing the document now, the government argues, “will provide a road map and suggest the next investigative steps we are going to take.” Lawyers for several media outlets, including the Washington Post, argued that the affidavit should be released given the “historic importance” of the Justice Department’s investigation. “Transparency serves the public interest in understanding and accepting the results. That’s good for the government and the court,” Charles Tobin, the media’s lawyer, told the court on Thursday. “You can’t trust what you can’t see.” Trump wants Mar-a-Lago affidavit made public as some aides ponder risk Trump has denounced the investigation as politically motivated, saying on social media this week that he believes the document should be unsealed without redactions “in the interest of TRANSPARENCY.” His lawyers, however, have not formally proposed to the court to take such a stand. Trump’s lawyer, Christina Bobb, appeared in court Thursday, saying she was there just to watch the proceedings. Jay Bratt, who heads the Justice Department’s counterintelligence and export control division, is arguing the government’s case against a panel of lawyers representing the media. Bratt has been closely involved in the investigation, having visited Mar-a-Lago in June to examine materials Trump had stored there. The counterintelligence and expert review division conducts investigations into leaks of government secrets. Bratt said releasing the affidavit would jeopardize the well-being of witnesses named in the document and could have a chilling effect on others “who may come forward and cooperate with the government’s investigation.” “The government is very concerned about witness safety,” Bratt said. Former Justice Department officials closely following the case said the affidavit was unlikely to contain any “good” information about the former president and, as The Post reported earlier this week, Trump’s advisers had not reached a consensus on with whether her revelation would be in his. interest. Law enforcement officials submit such documents to a judge as part of their application for a search warrant. Affidavits usually contain information that addresses why authorities believe there is evidence at a particular property and other details about their investigation. It has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing federal criminal investigation stemming from Trump’s dispute with the National Archives over materials taken from the White House when his term ended last year. Late last week, federal judge Bruce E. Reinhart — with the approval of the Justice Department — unsealed the search warrant and an inventory list that includes extensive descriptions of classified materials that federal agents say they recovered from Mar-a-Lago , the former president’s clubhouse and residence in South Florida. The Justice Department opposes the release of the Mar-a-Lago affidavit Legal experts said the Justice Department’s reluctance to release the document was consistent with how the agency typically conducts investigations and that it would be highly unusual for a judge to fully release the documents in the midst of an ongoing investigation. People who have spoken with Trump in recent days said the former president believes any information released about the investigation into his handling of classified material will anger his supporters, ultimately benefiting him politically. But others in Trump’s orbit fear such a move could backfire because they don’t know exactly what it contains.

title: “Mar A Lago Affidavit Judge To Rule On Whether Key Trump Document Is Unsealed Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-10” author: “Frankie Brown”

Comment WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A federal judge is hearing arguments Thursday on whether to unseal the affidavit central to last week’s FBI probe of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, where agents said they recovered several boxes with classified government material. ONE A Justice Department official told the judge that his investigation is “open and in its early stages.” Unsealing the document now, the government argues, “will provide a road map and suggest the next investigative steps we are going to take.” Lawyers for several media outlets, including the Washington Post, argued that the affidavit should be released given the “historic importance” of the Justice Department’s investigation. “Transparency serves the public interest in understanding and accepting the results. That’s good for the government and the court,” Charles Tobin, the media’s lawyer, told the court on Thursday. “You can’t trust what you can’t see.” Trump wants Mar-a-Lago affidavit made public as some aides ponder risk Trump has denounced the investigation as politically motivated, saying on social media this week that he believes the document should be unsealed without redactions “in the interest of TRANSPARENCY.” His lawyers, however, have not formally proposed to the court to take such a stand. Trump’s lawyer, Christina Bobb, appeared in court Thursday, saying she was there just to watch the proceedings. Jay Bratt, who heads the Justice Department’s counterintelligence and export control division, is arguing the government’s case against a panel of lawyers representing the media. Bratt has been closely involved in the investigation, having visited Mar-a-Lago in June to examine materials Trump had stored there. The counterintelligence and expert review division conducts investigations into leaks of government secrets. Bratt said releasing the affidavit would jeopardize the well-being of witnesses named in the document and could have a chilling effect on others “who may come forward and cooperate with the government’s investigation.” “The government is very concerned about witness safety,” Bratt said. Former Justice Department officials closely following the case said the affidavit was unlikely to contain any “good” information about the former president and, as The Post reported earlier this week, Trump’s advisers had not reached a consensus on with whether her revelation would be in his. interest. Law enforcement officials submit such documents to a judge as part of their application for a search warrant. Affidavits usually contain information that addresses why authorities believe there is evidence at a particular property and other details about their investigation. It has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing federal criminal investigation stemming from Trump’s dispute with the National Archives over materials taken from the White House when his term ended last year. Late last week, federal judge Bruce E. Reinhart — with the approval of the Justice Department — unsealed the search warrant and an inventory list that includes extensive descriptions of classified materials that federal agents say they recovered from Mar-a-Lago , the former president’s clubhouse and residence in South Florida. The Justice Department opposes the release of the Mar-a-Lago affidavit Legal experts said the Justice Department’s reluctance to release the document was consistent with how the agency typically conducts investigations and that it would be highly unusual for a judge to fully release the documents in the midst of an ongoing investigation. People who have spoken with Trump in recent days said the former president believes any information released about the investigation into his handling of classified material will anger his supporters, ultimately benefiting him politically. But others in Trump’s orbit fear such a move could backfire because they don’t know exactly what it contains.

title: “Mar A Lago Affidavit Judge To Rule On Whether Key Trump Document Is Unsealed Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-28” author: “Kevin Mahle”

Comment WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A federal judge is hearing arguments Thursday on whether to unseal the affidavit central to last week’s FBI probe of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, where agents said they recovered several boxes with classified government material. ONE A Justice Department official told the judge that his investigation is “open and in its early stages.” Unsealing the document now, the government argues, “will provide a road map and suggest the next investigative steps we are going to take.” Lawyers for several media outlets, including the Washington Post, argued that the affidavit should be released given the “historic importance” of the Justice Department’s investigation. “Transparency serves the public interest in understanding and accepting the results. That’s good for the government and the court,” Charles Tobin, the media’s lawyer, told the court on Thursday. “You can’t trust what you can’t see.” Trump wants Mar-a-Lago affidavit made public as some aides ponder risk Trump has denounced the investigation as politically motivated, saying on social media this week that he believes the document should be unsealed without redactions “in the interest of TRANSPARENCY.” His lawyers, however, have not formally proposed to the court to take such a stand. Trump’s lawyer, Christina Bobb, appeared in court Thursday, saying she was there just to watch the proceedings. Jay Bratt, who heads the Justice Department’s counterintelligence and export control division, is arguing the government’s case against a panel of lawyers representing the media. Bratt has been closely involved in the investigation, having visited Mar-a-Lago in June to examine materials Trump had stored there. The counterintelligence and expert review division conducts investigations into leaks of government secrets. Bratt said releasing the affidavit would jeopardize the well-being of witnesses named in the document and could have a chilling effect on others “who may come forward and cooperate with the government’s investigation.” “The government is very concerned about witness safety,” Bratt said. Former Justice Department officials closely following the case said the affidavit was unlikely to contain any “good” information about the former president and, as The Post reported earlier this week, Trump’s advisers had not reached a consensus on with whether her revelation would be in his. interest. Law enforcement officials submit such documents to a judge as part of their application for a search warrant. Affidavits usually contain information that addresses why authorities believe there is evidence at a particular property and other details about their investigation. It has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing federal criminal investigation stemming from Trump’s dispute with the National Archives over materials taken from the White House when his term ended last year. Late last week, federal judge Bruce E. Reinhart — with the approval of the Justice Department — unsealed the search warrant and an inventory list that includes extensive descriptions of classified materials that federal agents say they recovered from Mar-a-Lago , the former president’s clubhouse and residence in South Florida. The Justice Department opposes the release of the Mar-a-Lago affidavit Legal experts said the Justice Department’s reluctance to release the document was consistent with how the agency typically conducts investigations and that it would be highly unusual for a judge to fully release the documents in the midst of an ongoing investigation. People who have spoken with Trump in recent days said the former president believes any information released about the investigation into his handling of classified material will anger his supporters, ultimately benefiting him politically. But others in Trump’s orbit fear such a move could backfire because they don’t know exactly what it contains.

title: “Mar A Lago Affidavit Judge To Rule On Whether Key Trump Document Is Unsealed Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-18” author: “Stacy Siddoway”

Comment WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A federal judge is hearing arguments Thursday on whether to unseal the affidavit central to last week’s FBI probe of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, where agents said they recovered several boxes with classified government material. ONE A Justice Department official told the judge that his investigation is “open and in its early stages.” Unsealing the document now, the government argues, “will provide a road map and suggest the next investigative steps we are going to take.” Lawyers for several media outlets, including the Washington Post, argued that the affidavit should be released given the “historic importance” of the Justice Department’s investigation. “Transparency serves the public interest in understanding and accepting the results. That’s good for the government and the court,” Charles Tobin, the media’s lawyer, told the court on Thursday. “You can’t trust what you can’t see.” Trump wants Mar-a-Lago affidavit made public as some aides ponder risk Trump has denounced the investigation as politically motivated, saying on social media this week that he believes the document should be unsealed without redactions “in the interest of TRANSPARENCY.” His lawyers, however, have not formally proposed to the court to take such a stand. Trump’s lawyer, Christina Bobb, appeared in court Thursday, saying she was there just to watch the proceedings. Jay Bratt, who heads the Justice Department’s counterintelligence and export control division, is arguing the government’s case against a panel of lawyers representing the media. Bratt has been closely involved in the investigation, having visited Mar-a-Lago in June to examine materials Trump had stored there. The counterintelligence and expert review division conducts investigations into leaks of government secrets. Bratt said releasing the affidavit would jeopardize the well-being of witnesses named in the document and could have a chilling effect on others “who may come forward and cooperate with the government’s investigation.” “The government is very concerned about witness safety,” Bratt said. Former Justice Department officials closely following the case said the affidavit was unlikely to contain any “good” information about the former president and, as The Post reported earlier this week, Trump’s advisers had not reached a consensus on with whether her revelation would be in his. interest. Law enforcement officials submit such documents to a judge as part of their application for a search warrant. Affidavits usually contain information that addresses why authorities believe there is evidence at a particular property and other details about their investigation. It has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing federal criminal investigation stemming from Trump’s dispute with the National Archives over materials taken from the White House when his term ended last year. Late last week, federal judge Bruce E. Reinhart — with the approval of the Justice Department — unsealed the search warrant and an inventory list that includes extensive descriptions of classified materials that federal agents say they recovered from Mar-a-Lago , the former president’s clubhouse and residence in South Florida. The Justice Department opposes the release of the Mar-a-Lago affidavit Legal experts said the Justice Department’s reluctance to release the document was consistent with how the agency typically conducts investigations and that it would be highly unusual for a judge to fully release the documents in the midst of an ongoing investigation. People who have spoken with Trump in recent days said the former president believes any information released about the investigation into his handling of classified material will anger his supporters, ultimately benefiting him politically. But others in Trump’s orbit fear such a move could backfire because they don’t know exactly what it contains.

title: “Mar A Lago Affidavit Judge To Rule On Whether Key Trump Document Is Unsealed Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-06” author: “Sharon Spina”

Comment WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A federal judge is hearing arguments Thursday on whether to unseal the affidavit central to last week’s FBI probe of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, where agents said they recovered several boxes with classified government material. ONE A Justice Department official told the judge that his investigation is “open and in its early stages.” Unsealing the document now, the government argues, “will provide a road map and suggest the next investigative steps we are going to take.” Lawyers for several media outlets, including the Washington Post, argued that the affidavit should be released given the “historic importance” of the Justice Department’s investigation. “Transparency serves the public interest in understanding and accepting the results. That’s good for the government and the court,” Charles Tobin, the media’s lawyer, told the court on Thursday. “You can’t trust what you can’t see.” Trump wants Mar-a-Lago affidavit made public as some aides ponder risk Trump has denounced the investigation as politically motivated, saying on social media this week that he believes the document should be unsealed without redactions “in the interest of TRANSPARENCY.” His lawyers, however, have not formally proposed to the court to take such a stand. Trump’s lawyer, Christina Bobb, appeared in court Thursday, saying she was there just to watch the proceedings. Jay Bratt, who heads the Justice Department’s counterintelligence and export control division, is arguing the government’s case against a panel of lawyers representing the media. Bratt has been closely involved in the investigation, having visited Mar-a-Lago in June to examine materials Trump had stored there. The counterintelligence and expert review division conducts investigations into leaks of government secrets. Bratt said releasing the affidavit would jeopardize the well-being of witnesses named in the document and could have a chilling effect on others “who may come forward and cooperate with the government’s investigation.” “The government is very concerned about witness safety,” Bratt said. Former Justice Department officials closely following the case said the affidavit was unlikely to contain any “good” information about the former president and, as The Post reported earlier this week, Trump’s advisers had not reached a consensus on with whether her revelation would be in his. interest. Law enforcement officials submit such documents to a judge as part of their application for a search warrant. Affidavits usually contain information that addresses why authorities believe there is evidence at a particular property and other details about their investigation. It has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing federal criminal investigation stemming from Trump’s dispute with the National Archives over materials taken from the White House when his term ended last year. Late last week, federal judge Bruce E. Reinhart — with the approval of the Justice Department — unsealed the search warrant and an inventory list that includes extensive descriptions of classified materials that federal agents say they recovered from Mar-a-Lago , the former president’s clubhouse and residence in South Florida. The Justice Department opposes the release of the Mar-a-Lago affidavit Legal experts said the Justice Department’s reluctance to release the document was consistent with how the agency typically conducts investigations and that it would be highly unusual for a judge to fully release the documents in the midst of an ongoing investigation. People who have spoken with Trump in recent days said the former president believes any information released about the investigation into his handling of classified material will anger his supporters, ultimately benefiting him politically. But others in Trump’s orbit fear such a move could backfire because they don’t know exactly what it contains.