Garland: Trump search warrant should be unsealed
Category: News & Politics
Via: jbb • 3 years ago • 95 commentsBy: Rick Rouan, Joey Garrison, Erin Mansfield and Kevin Johnson (USA TODAY)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Rick RouanJoey GarrisonErin MansfieldKevin JohnsonUSA TODAY
Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday the Justice Department had filed a motion to unseal the search warrant and property receipt from a search FBI agents conducted Monday at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida
"I personally approved the decision to seek a search warrant in this matter," he said Thursday, after making the required finding of "probable cause" that a crime had been committed.
On Monday, agents searched Trump's residence and his safe in what sources familiar with the matter have told USA TODAY is an investigation related to Trump's removal of classified documents from the White House when he left office.
Trump has denounced that investigation. The latest action prompted Trump to make accusations of a "witch hunt" in all levels of government, including the bureau itself. However, FBI Director Christopher Wray was appointed by Trump while he was president.
Related:The Mar-a-Lago search warrant has become a hot topic for speculation. Here's what we really know
Republicans have said the search was politically motivated, and Wray has responded to threats against the department since the search.
Since 2021, Trump has faced legal scrutiny in at least five independent federal and state inquiries that are both criminal and civil in nature. At least two investigations involve the 2020 election. A bipartisan House committee is digging into Trump's role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. New York's attorney general is investigating the Trump Organization's business practices. And a federal inquiry into presidential records is ongoing, and appears to have prompted a search by the FBI at his Florida estate.
Under the law, any search would need to be authorized by a federal judge after finding probable cause that a crime had been committed and that evidence of the crime exists in the location to be searched.
What was taken:Donald Trump knows what FBI agents took from Mar-a-Lago and why they took it, experts say
Garland defends federal law enforcement
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday also addressed what he called "unfounded attacks on the professionalism" of federal law enforcement officials since the search.
Republicans have denounced the search as politically motivated, and the FBI has responded to threats against the agency since the search.
"I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked. The men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department are dedicated, patriotic public servants," Garland said. "Every day, they protect the American people from violent crime, terrorism and other threats to their safety while safeguarding our civil rights. They do so at great personal sacrifice and risk to themselves. I am honored to work alongside them."
Trump doesn't comment on Garland, criticizes Obama instead
Minutes after Attorney General Merrick Garland's remarks, former President Donald Trump posted a comment on Truth Social that did not address the attorney, but instead criticized predecessor Barack Obama.
Trump said he wants to know what happened to the records Obama and his aides took with them when they left the White House in 2017, saying "the Fake News Media refuses to talk about that. They want it CANCELED!"
The cases are nothing alike.
Obama officials transferred their records through the National Archives to their home base in Chicago, where they planned to digitize them for inclusion in their presidential library.
Trump allegedly took boxes of items to his home in Mar-a-Lago, prompting complaints from the National Archives that led to the current investigation and this week's search of the president's home.
- David Jackson
Justice Department asks judge to unseal warrant, if Trump approves
The Justice Department's motion asking a federal judge to unseal the warrant to search former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home opens the door for Trump to stop it from becoming public.
The department argues the court should unseal the search warrant, attachments and property receipt "absent objection from the former president."
"The public's clear and powerful interest in understanding what occurred under these circumstances weighs heavily in favor of unsealing," Justice Department attorneys wrote in their motion. "That said, the former President should have an opportunity to respond to this Motion and lodge objections, including with regards to any 'legitimate privacy interests' or the potential for other 'injury' if these materials are made public."
Republicans have been beating a drum to release the warrant and associated documents since the FBI conducted its search on Monday.
- Rick Rouan
Read the Justice Department's motion to unseal the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago
Trump's confirmation prompted Justice to unseal warrant
Attorney General Merrick Garland said a combination of factors influenced the Justice Department's decision to file to unseal the search warrant.
Those included: Trump's confirmation of the search, made via a public statement Monday, "surrounding circumstances" and the "substantial public interest in the matter."
- Rick Rouan
AG signed off on seeking search warrant
Attorney General Merrick Garland said he personally approved the department's decision to seek a search warrant of former president Donald Trump's residence in Mar-a-Lago.
Garland said this was in accordance with Department of Justice policy and procedures, and added, "The department does not take such a decision lightly."
"Upholding the rule of law means applying the law evenly, without favor," Garland said. "Under my watch, that is precisely what the Justice department is doing."
- Erin Mansfield
DOJ seeks to unseal search warrant of Mar-a-Lago
Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Department of Justice has asked a federal court in South Florida to unseal a search warrant and property receipt related to a search of the former president's home.
Garland said a federal court authorized the search "upon the required finding of probable cause." He said the DOJ's motion came "in light of the former president's public confirmation" as well as "the substantial public interest in this matter."
- Erin Mansfield
White House: Biden did not have prior knowledge of Garland's statement
A White House official said President Joe Biden had no prior knowledge that Garland would be making a statement Thursday and learned about it through media reports.
The White House has previously said Biden was not given advance notice of the FBI search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago property Monday.
"We did not have advance notice of this activity," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier this week.
- Joey Garrison
Who is Merrick Garland?
Before he was attorney general, Garland was a longtime judge who was nominated for the Justice Department post when Joe Biden won the presidency.
Garland is a Chicago native who attended Harvard University for both undergraduate studies and law school. He practiced corporate law and then served as a deputy attorney general under President Bill Clinton, who then nominated him to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
President Barack Obama nominated him to the Supreme Court in 2016, but he was never confirmed to the high court when Senate Republicans declined to give him a hearing.
Investigations:Trump in midst of gathering storm of investigations. Mar-a-Lago document inquiry is one of many.
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Merrick Garland just KNOCKED Trumpyland out of its orbit...
How so?
When they unseal the search warrant let me know.
Might happen........by the magistrate who signed it..........
Trump can show the warrant and manifest of what was taken if he wants to, but, he doesn't want to because it will blow the narrative the reich wing has been playing since Monday. Garland just called his bluff. In essence..
GOP: Release the warrant!!!
Garland: Ok.
GOP: Wait, no, never mind.
Trump appointed magistrate no less..
watch them fight it in court... losers...
Yes please and the affidavit used to obtain the warrant as well.
I agree, release all of it.
yeah, find out which trump family member rolled over on him...
The panic in Trumpyland is palpable as the screws tighten!
If he has it, why are his lawyers suing to get it?
And if this is a simple matter of documents, why the raid and the apparent fishing expedition?
Only two ifs and two whys, vic.?
Just waiting for the inevitable buts.
he won't give it to them until the newest money raising scam yields $10 million on it...
It's his property, he has the warrant and manifest. Those two items are HIS to do with as he pleases.
Because trump ignored the subpoena that was issued. Had he complied, there would have been no search warrant.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say if if was a family member, I'm sure it was Mary..
PROVE IT
it's the legal protocol required after the warrant has been served and any items seized.
follow the money. who in his family has the most to gain by trumpski going to jail? somebody in his inner circle has seen the writing on the wall, accepts the inevitability, and hopes to capitalize on it.
You are misinformed! Trump has a copy of the search warrant and a detailed manifest of all items seized. He refuses to release them.
Which is why Garland is calling Trump's bluff!
You do not seem to understand the situation.
I read one article they were saying it was Jared.
I said prove it
him or any one of his kids, or melania... they're probably all sick of being around a sick fuck.
fuck off
Nobody needs to prove it because that is THE LAW. They are legally required to provide both to Trump, and if they hadn't he would be screaming to high heaven about that by now.
But the subpoena was issued last Spring, and the DOJ was at Mar-a-Lago on June 3rd so he and his team were cooperating with the DOJ. June 3rd is also when the DOJ went thru the records room and ended up taking 15 boxes with them when they left. According to reporting the only interaction that the Trump team had with the DOJ after June 3rd was when they later asked the records room in the basement be better secured.
He was the subject of the raid, Vic!!!! If you get a speeding ticket, who gets the fucking ticket? Some other random motorist that's passing by? Wake up!
Instead, the DOJ filed it's own motion to do just that. UNLIKE others, including Judicial Watch, who are seeking its release, the DOJ recommended that the Judge allow Trump to have a voice.
So now it's a raid?
Lol,
.
Why does Mar a Lago have a "records room" ?
What's really funny is the White House saying they weren't briefed about it and that they didn't know Garland was going to comment on it today.
It's a room in the basement where the Trump admin was storing records, hence I called it a "records room". I could have just as easily called it "fred". Just a name.
There is NO 'Trump admin'. It's Trump. PERIOD, full stop. Trump is the ONLY person responsible for what is in those 12 boxes that were retrieved.
Oh I thought that came from the article.
Wow, triggered much Vic.
You want proof? Here you go:
READ: DOJ motion to unseal search warrant and property receipt for Trump's Mar-a-Lago home - DocumentCloud
I won't actually make you actually READ the document, Dog forbid.
Page 2, 2nd paragraph:
Now Vic, unless YOU can PROVE that the AG of the US intentionally LIED to the Court, that statement in the motion is PROVES IT.
BTFW, it took me less than a minute to find and pinpoint your PROOF.
You're welcome.
What if it's Trump's opposition that keeps it from being released Vic?
What pretzel logic will your comments display then?
Cute, you know what I mean Greg.
No, I don't. But if you could clarify I'm sure I can follow along. Was it a raid or not?
Right, that's why Trump was the one that reported the search.
Ya and the desperation of the supporters is palpable as well!
But, but trumpturd invited them back in June!
Trump just called for making the warrant public.
Garland has been called and raised!
Your comment is delusional Vic.
Trump could have released the docs on Monday.
BTFW, what say you about the FACT that they found Top Secret documents?
Now illegally possessing Top secret documents is a bad thing?
Lol.
Especially Top Secret SCI Sean. I realize that you're still trying to push your whataboutism. It's a losing cause and obtuse.
Really? It's bad now? When did that change?
Strange how that works.
Who else are you claiming refused to relinquish Top Secret SCI material Sean? Be specific.
[Deleted]
I was making a point not a claim. Please reconsider.
[There is no need to make nasty insinuations to make a point.]
[Deleted]
Sorry. I'll try to be a better person in the future.
trumpski has a copy of the warrant and what was seized, why doesn't he release it? oh yeah, that would knock the wheels off the rwnj indignation bus and short change his money raising scam off the incident, never mind.
Why doesn't the AG. Did the raid fail to find anything?
“…his money raising scam…”
Taking advantage of those that he would dismiss as losers for supporting his call, while gladly accepting the alms.
He is simply pathological, preying upon the weakest amongst us.
probably, but I don't associate with anyone that stupid...
Garland hasn't released it since the judge said that Trump had to agree to have it released. Garland and the DOJ are ready to release it as soon as Trump agrees. So Garland called Trump's bluff let's see what thunder mouth will do now.
Tomorrow will be interesting.
I bet he won't agree to it. He would rather keep up with conspiracy than let truth be known.
Anyone with a functioning brain will know that if Trump refuses to release it he is full of shit and lying as usual. Many of his followers do not have a functioning brain.
So true!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only a weak simpleminded fool would contribute to that weak simpleminded fool.
Thunder mouth! I love it! All that rumbling and absolutely nothing of substance. . . .
Boxes and boxes.
Of course Trump has flushed everything incriminating already
The FBI found most everything that Trump didn't burn years ago.
Why would a serial criminal change his stripes now?
I agree it should be unsealed. What is Merrick trying to hide?
It doesn't sound like Merrick Garland is holding back anymore!
So........what did he find?
hopefully it's the 4 missing cell phones he claims to have lost...
Will Trump oppose its release?
He approved the raid, yet still no information. Nothing here.
Are you complaining that he has failed to release all information of an ongoing criminal investigation to you? Is that really what you're complaining about?
Yeah....bur it still takes a jury to make it legal.
You have to have a jury to issue a search warrant? That's a new one. /eye roll
[deleted]
I didn't know justice hinged on who appointed you. I guess that speaks volumes as to why Hunter Biden is still not being prosecuted.
ustice hinged on who appointed you. I guess that speaks volumes as to why Hunter Biden is still not being prosecuted.
Those memes are often unintentionally revealing.
“…to why Hunter Biden is still not being prosecuted.”
HBDS
He probably will be and if he is guilty, adios. But I did hear that Hunter watched the raid on his laptop.
(your deflection is noted.)
“…to why Hunter Biden is still not being prosecuted.”
"HBDS"
Thank you afk - we have a new moniker for the trumpturdians
Great. I'm glad we call all agree that those who called for more transparency were correct in the last few seeds. Strange that those who were so vehemently opposed to it are now celebrating it.
It's amusing to watch the progressive position flip positions on a dime when their masters tell them to.
it's amusing to watch regressives flip their support of LE position on a dime when their masters tell them to.
Exactly, just as libs flip and support LE when they approve of the target.
Please link the comments of 'progressives' who are vehemently opposed to transparency. I'll wait...
Still waiting Sean.
Waiting for what? you don't have to ask my permission to read.
For you to post something that supports your bullshit allegations.
When Trump opens his mouth, one can be assured that lies will ooze out:
Awaiting the bombshell revelations. Shouldn't take long to go through 15 boxes of stuff.
Time for show and tell Merriick.
It has already been revealed that Trump had, at a private residence, documents of the highest level of classification.
That is not allowed and a PotUS cannot, on his own, declassify such documents. Thus it was entirely wrong (and dangerous for the security of our nation) for Trump to be holding these documents in his home rather than at a secured government facility. Fundamental problem, Greg.
What is not yet known is why the FBI had to resort to physically entering Trump's home to retrieve the documents. Common sense suggests that Trump was resisting attempts to secure these documents without such fanfare. Common sense suggests that Garland would not run the political risk of publicly invading the private residence of a former PotUS without good justification.
But all we can do is speculate, so let's just see how this unfolds.
Yep. We know now that wrongly possessing the highest level of classified documents doesn't even merit a slap on the wrist from the DOJ. So what was the crime that necessitated a raid?
We do? How so Sean?
Oh, and how was the 'slap on the wrist' adjudicated and rendered Sean?
Was there a prosecution?
A trial?
A guilty verdict and then a sentencing?
Of whom, by whom?
Please provide me with some clarification and evidence of your allegation.
Conversely, you could just admit that you yanked it out of your nether region.
I don't think you understand what "doesn't even merit a slap on the wrist" means.
Why don't you look it up and ask cogent questions, if you are really so uninformed as to not know what I'm talking about.
Oh, my bad Sean, I thought you were advocating for 'wrongly possessing the highest level of classified documents' TO warrant a slap on the wrist.
So, how do 'we now know' it doesn't Sean? Please provide a link to an example.
Oh, and I am still waiting for you to support your claim about progressives.
Here's cogent question I'm waiting for an answer for Sean:
Got a cogent answer?