Trump Responds To Release Of Warrant Affidavit Used To Search Mar-a-Lago

The search warrant used to search former President Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago residence was released on Friday by order of a federal judge.

While the affidavit did not add new details about the 11 sets of classified documents that were found in the FBI’s search, it did provide insight into the 15 boxes of classified materials that were located at Mar-a-Lago back in January by the National Archives and outline the events leading up to the search.

The National Archives called on the Justice Department shortly after to look into whether or not Trump failed to comply with the Presidential Records Act which requires all former presidents to hand over documents from their administration at the end of their tenure in the White House.

In the boxes, there were 184 documents labeled as classified, with 25 of those documents being “Top Secret.”

“Further,” the affidavit said, “the FBI agents observed markings reflecting the following compartments/dissemination controls: HCS, FISA, ORCON, NOFORN, and SI. Based on my training and experience, I know that documents classified at these levels typically contain [National Defense Information]. Several of the documents also contained what appears to be FPOTUS ‘s handwritten notes.”

The Justice Department had submitted the 32-page affidavit to Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, who then signed off on the search warrant given “probable cause.”

Though the document was unsealed at noon on Friday, over half of it remained redacted in order to “protect the safety and privacy of a significant number of civilian witnesses, in addition to law enforcement personnel, as well as to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.”

It is unusual to allow even portions to become public before the case is closed.

Trump responded in a statement on his social media app, Truth Social.

“Affidavit heavily redacted!!!” Trump wrote. “Nothing mentioned on ‘Nuclear,’ a total public relations subterfuge by the FBI & DOJ, or our close working relationship regarding document turnover – WE GAVE THEM MUCH. Judge Bruce Reinhart should NEVER have allowed the Break-In of my home. He recused himself two months ago from one of my cases based on his animosity and hatred of your favorite President, me. What changed? Why hasn’t he recused himself on this case? Obama must be very proud of him right now!”