DOJ Files Motion to Unseal Mar-a-Lago Search Warrant & Property Receipt
"Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday the Justice Department had filed a motion to unseal the search warrant and property receipt from a search FBI agents conducted Monday at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida." (
Source)
We've been chit-chatting above about various aspects of the Mar-a-Lago search. Much of that has been rendered moot by this recent development.
While they initially asked and were granted that the documents be sealed, DOJ now wants the documents released.
It remains to be seen if Trump wants them released.
From what the TV commentators are saying, it seems the judge will give Trump an opportunity to respond to this motion. But if Trump does not want the documents released, that in itself does not keep them from being released. The decision to unseal or keep sealed the documents will be made by the court, not by Trump or the DOJ.
Regarding the question raised above about Trump actually having these documents, we now know he does. Today's filing states:
"Consistent with standard practice in this Court, the search warrant and attachments were each filed under seal in Case No. 22-mj-8332-BER prior to the search; the Property Receipt was filed under seal today. Former President Trump, through counsel, was provided copies of each of these documents on August 8, 2022, as part of the execution of the search." (Source: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA CASE NO. 22-MJ-8332-BER).
Thus, Trump has had, and continues to have, the ability to release these documents at any time. So far, he has not done so. If Trump does not object to the DOJ motion, the court will likely unseal the documents soon. If Trump does object, he will need to state his reasons to the court, which would make for some very interesting reading if that develops.