AG Merrick Garland files motion to unseal Trump search warrant


Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday said the Justice Department has asked a judge to unseal the search warrant and the "supporting documents" used in the FBI's raid of former President Donald Trump's Florida mansion, The New York Times summarizes.
The AG said he approved the initial decision to seek a search warrant after "less intrusive" attempts at recovering the documents Trump is thought to have improperly taken from the White House failed, the Times notes. "The department does not take such a decision lightly," he said.
Garland also took the time to defend "the men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department" — whom he called "dedicated, patriotic public servants" — from recent criticism by supporters of the former president, who have claimed the agents acted politically and unfairly in their search. "I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked," Garland said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Notably, the search warrant in this case "was sealed for a reason" (as they often are), writes USA Today, and "unsealing it to appease political supporters of Trump — or his detractors — would go against long-standing Justice Department policy and tradition."
Meanwhile, it was reported earlier Thursday that Trump had received a subpoena earlier this year in search of the documents, seemingly corroborating that the DOJ attempted "less intrusive" actions prior to Monday's raid.
Trump's lawyers may now respond to, and raise any objections regarding, the DOJ's request to unseal the warrant before the judge issues a decision, notes The Wall Street Journal.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
5 cultural trails to traverse by car
The Week Recommends Leave the hiking shoes at home
-
Could Iran's water crisis be the regime's tipping point?
Today's Big Question Drought is a problem. So is government mismanagement.
-
Trump revives K-12 Presidential Fitness Test
Speed Read The Obama administration phased the test out in 2012, replacing it with a program focused on overall health rather than standardized benchmarks
-
Trump revives K-12 Presidential Fitness Test
Speed Read The Obama administration phased the test out in 2012, replacing it with a program focused on overall health rather than standardized benchmarks
-
El Salvador scraps term limits, boosting Nayib Bukele
Speed Read New constitutional changes will allow presidents to seek reelection an indefinite number of times
-
Trump assigns tariffs, delays all except on Canada
Speed Read A 35% tariff on many Canadian goods has gone into effect
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest
-
Trump sets new tariff rates as deadline nears
Speed Read New tariff rates for South Korea, Brazil and India announced
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardon
Talking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
Senate confirms Trump loyalist Bove to top court
Speed Read The president's former criminal defense lawyer was narrowly approved to earn a lifetime seat
-
Ghislaine Maxwell offers testimony for immunity
Speed Read The convicted sex trafficker offered to testify to Congress about her relationship with late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein