After hearing arguments in court Thursday, federal judge Bruce E. Reinhart ordered Justice Department officials to submit proposed amendments by Thursday at noon Eastern time. The Justice Department has objected to the release of the document, saying its investigation is in the “early stages” and that releasing the affidavit could implicate potential witnesses, jeopardize the safety of those already questioned and reveal future investigative steps. News organizations are pushing for its disclosure, citing the public interest in a case stemming from Trump’s possession of classified documents. “I cannot say at this point that the partial amendments will be so far-reaching as to result in a meaningless disclosure, but I may eventually come to that conclusion after hearing more from the government,” Reinhart said in the written order Monday . The order also makes clear that Reinhart rejected the Justice Department’s argument that “the present record warrants keeping the entire affidavit under seal.” The affidavit has become the latest flashpoint in a criminal investigation scrutinizing materials taken from the White House when Trump’s term ended last year. On August 8, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, seizing dozens of boxes containing what authorities have described as top-secret national secrets. Judge signals willingness to unseal some Mar-a-Lago affidavits Reinhart said he would not make a decision on unsealing the document until he had reviewed the administration’s proposed changes, and any decision would remain pending potential appeals — meaning the affidavit may not be made public for some time, if ever. The affidavit would provide the most comprehensive rationale for why the administration pushed to search Trump’s assets — and what investigative steps it took beforehand. It would show who Justice officials had interviewed, what they believed might be on the premises and why they judged there was probable cause to commit crimes. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump last week called for “the immediate release of the completely Unredacted Affidavit.” However, his lawyers have yet to follow up in court. The judge noted Monday that in the two weeks since the FBI seized classified documents, Trump has not filed a legal motion on whether the affidavit should be released. “Neither former President Trump nor anyone else claiming to be the owner of the Store has filed to take a position on intervenors’ motions to unseal,” the judge wrote.
