The affidavit used by the FBI to obtain the search warrant which resulted in the Aug. 8 raid of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home has been released. The 38-page document gives more insight into what investigators were looking for at the Florida residence.
The affidavit reveals the FBI opened the investigation following a referral from the National Archives and Records Administration. It also provides details about 15 boxes of material that were previously handed over by the former president to the National Archives, which contained 184 documents marked classified.
The agent who signed the affidavit is unknown because their name is redacted. However, they wrote that there was probable cause to believe more classified documents were stored at Mar-a-Lago in rooms that were not approved to contain that type of material.
The document also revealed there was to be a “privilege team” present during the warrant’s execution to review materials taken from Trump’s office and ensure they did not contain attorney-client privileged information. If materials of that nature were found, the privilege team was to keep them out of the hands of investigators and bring them before a judge. The judge could then rule as to whether they should be kept private.
The document is heavily redacted, with some pages completely blacked out. The Justice Department argued that the entire affidavit should remain under seal. But last week, Judge Bruce Reinhart ordered the Justice Department to submit proposed redactions.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to criticize the release of the redacted affidavit.
“Affidavit heavily redacted!!! Nothing mentioned on ‘Nuclear,/ a total public relations subterfuge by the FBI & DOJ, or our close working relationship regarding document turnover – WE GAVE THEM MUCH,” he wrote.
After reviewing the proposals, Reinhart determined it could be released to the public. Reinhart ordered it be unsealed Thursday, stating the government, “has met its burden of showing that its proposed redactions are narrowly tailored to serve the Government’s legitimate interest in the integrity of the ongoing investigation and are the least onerous alternative to sealing the entire affidavit.”
This story has been updated.
