Judge Bruce Rinehart’s order expands on an order from the bench issued Thursday that gave the Justice Department until Thursday to propose corrections it says are necessary to protect its ongoing investigation. “Particularly given the intense public and historical interest in an unprecedented search of a former president’s residence, the administration has yet to demonstrate that these administrative concerns are sufficient to warrant sealing,” Reinhart wrote, adding that he declined to hold the entire affidavit under seal. While Reinhart previously suggested that a redacted version of the affidavit would be released, he cautioned that the approach could change after the Justice Department reviews the proposed amendments. “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,” he wrote. The Justice Department had previously argued that those it deemed necessary corrections “would be so extensive that the document lacks content that would meaningfully enhance public understanding.” Larry Summers Says White House Shouldn’t Extend Student Loan Freeze Pfizer Submits Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Booster to FDA The DOJ has until noon Thursday to submit its proposal. The warrant and other related documents were released earlier this month after Attorney General Merrick Garland said “the public’s clear and strong interest in understanding what happened under these circumstances weighs heavily in favor of unsealing.” However, the department has taken a different tone regarding the affidavit used to justify the warrant, arguing that it should remain under seal in its entirety because the information it contains lays out a “roadmap” for its ongoing investigation and “highly sensitive witness information” and “specific investigative techniques.”
