DOJ seeks to keep Mar-a-Lago warrant affidavit private over implications of ‘highly classified materials’

The Justice Department is seeking to prevent the release of an affidavit used to justify the search on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home last week.

The DOJ argued in new court filings that, due to the ongoing criminal investigation into Trump, the release of the affidavit “implicates highly classified materials.”

“Disclosure of the government’s affidavit at this stage would also likely chill future cooperation by witnesses whose assistance may be sought as this investigation progresses, as well as in other high-profile investigations,” the DOJ wrote. “The fact that this investigation implicates highly classified materials further underscores the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and exacerbates the potential harm if information is disclosed to the public prematurely or improperly.”

Former President Donald Trump has continuously called for transparency in the matter after the FBI reported finding at least 11 sets of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. He has made no objections to unsealing the affidavit, and in a statement, called for its release.

“Not only will I not oppose the release of documents related to the unAmerican, unwarranted, and unnecessary raid and break-in of my home in Palm Beach, Florida, Mar-a-Lago, I am going a step further by ENCOURAGING the immediate release of those documents, even though they have been drawn up by radical left Democrats and possible future political opponents, who have a strong and powerful vested interest in attacking me, much as they have done for the last 6 years,” Trump said.

Many politicians and media organizations have sought to obtain documents pertaining to the search. However, the Justice Department has stated that disclosing such details would “cause significant and irreparable damage to this ongoing criminal investigation.”

“The redactions necessary to mitigate harms to the integrity of the investigation would be so extensive as to render the remaining unsealed text devoid of meaningful content, and the release of such a redacted version would not serve any public interest,” the DOJ stated.