US Justice Department moves to make Trump’s Mar-a-Lago search warrant public

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Justice Department asked a federal court in the state of Florida to make public the search warrant used to carry out the raid on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday.

Garland said he "personally approved" the decision to seek a search warrant, emphasizing the Justice Department "does not take such decision lightly." The warrant was approved by a court based on probable cause, said Garland.

The FBI searched Trump's southern Florida property with Trump's attorney "on-site" at the time, he said.

In addition to the warrant, the agency asked the court in the Southern District of Florida to unseal what is known as a property receipt, which was given to the property owner to identify items that were taken from the premises.

Garland said the department moved to unseal the warrant and property receipt due to the "substantial public interest in this matter."

"Faithful adherence to the rule of law is the bedrock principle of the Justice Department and of our democracy. Upholding the rule of law means applying the law evenly without fear or favor. Under my watch, that is precisely what the Justice Department is doing," Garland told reporters at the department. He did not take questions.