Mar-a-Lago Raid: The Affidavit Circus

The next act in the Mar-a-Lago search-warrant drama will play out in south Florida on Thursday afternoon. Magistrate Judge Bruce W. Reinhart has scheduled a hearing on the motion to make public the currently sealed, probable-cause affidavit filed by the Justice Department in support of last week’s search of former president Trump’s estate. The motion was made by several media organizations and private watchdog groups.

In an unusual move, the former president has expressed support for the movants seeking the unsealing of the warrant. Normally, a person as to whom the government contends there is probable cause of guilt of at least three federal felonies would not be enthusiastic about the publication of the FBI’s summary of its supporting evidence (much as he would, no doubt, like to see the summary for himself). Trump, however, clearly realizes that the court is not going to unseal the warrant at this premature stage. His pose thus helps him in the court of public opinion: He appears to be pushing for transparency while the Justice Department is pushing for concealment.

The next act in the Mar-a-Lago search-warrant drama will play out in south Florida on Thursday afternoon. Magistrate Judge Bruce W. Reinhart has scheduled a hearing on the motion to make public the currently sealed, probable-cause affidavit filed by the Justice Department in support of last week’s search of former president Trump’s estate. The motion was made by several media organizations and private watchdog groups.

In an unusual move, the former president has expressed support for the movants seeking the unsealing of the warrant. Normally, a person as to whom the government contends there is probable cause of guilt of at least three federal felonies would not be enthusiastic about the publication of the FBI’s summary of its supporting evidence (much as he would, no doubt, like to see the summary for himself). Trump, however, clearly realizes that the court is not going to unseal the warrant at this premature stage. His pose thus helps him in the court of public opinion: He appears to be pushing for transparency while the Justice Department is pushing for concealment.

About the Author

Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency.