The affidavit explains why investigators believe there was a probable cause that crimes were committed. The warrant authorized the FBI to search the home and private club of former President Donald Trump earlier this month.
Earlier Thursday, the DOJ submitted its proposed editorial to U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, who issued the public release order.
Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said: “The United States has filed a petition under seal in accordance with the Court’s Aug. 22 order. The Justice Department respectfully declines further comment while the Court considers the matter. takes.”
Justice Department prosecutors have stressed that they need continued secrecy in order not to disrupt the ongoing criminal investigation, especially as they keep the grand jury’s activities confidential and protect witnesses who have or could share information.
In his warrant, Reinhart said the Justice Department convinced him that portions of the affidavit should remain sealed because “disclosure would (1) reveal the identities of witnesses, law enforcement and unindicted parties, (2) the strategy, direction, scope of investigation, sources and methods, and (3) information about the grand jury.”
He concluded that the DOJ had met “the burden of demonstrating that the proposed redactions are closely aligned with the government’s legitimate interest in the integrity of the ongoing investigation and are the least incriminating alternative to sealing the entire affidavit. “
Newscasts ask judge to disclose DOJ briefing on editorials
The media said the letter should be made public with any redactions necessary to protect the ongoing investigation. In addition, the media companies have asked the judge to order that in the future all documents that the Justice Department seals in the transparency dispute also be submitted publicly with the appropriate redactions.
“As this Court has also acknowledged, there is little interest in maintaining secrecy regarding facts about the investigation that the government has already publicly confirmed to be correct,” the news outlets said.
At the very least, the media organizations argued, “all parts of the letter that state these facts about the investigation, without disclosing additional information not yet publicly available — in addition to all other parts that do not pose a threat to the investigation — should be removed.” unsealed.”
“If and when additional facts come to light and are confirmed to be correct, or if certain facts no longer pose a threat to the investigation for any other reason, there is also no justification for keeping them under seal,” the writings wrote. the news broadcasts. “In addition, all legal arguments in the government’s files must be made public, even if some of the facts the government discloses are hidden.”
This story has been updated with additional details.