Florida

Judge Says He's Inclined to Unseal Portions of Mar-a-Lago Search Affidavit, Orders Gov't to Submit Redactions

U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart gave the government until next Thursday to make redactions to the documents and turn over that version

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A federal judge on Thursday said he is inclined to unseal at least some of the probable cause affidavit used to secure a search of former President Donald Trump's Florida estate and ordered the government to submit proposed redactions.

“On my initial careful review ... there are portions of it that can be unsealed,” Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart said after a hearing where a top government lawyer contended the document's release could jeopardize an investigation that is still in its "early stages."

In a written ruling after the hearing, Reinhart said, "I find that on the present record the Government has not met its burden of showing that the entire affidavit should remain sealed."

The search warrant, obtained by NBC News, for the Mar-a-Lago home of former President Donald Trump says 11 sets of classified documents, including some marked top secret, were removed.

For more on this story, go to NBC News.

An earlier version of this article mischaracterized the federal judge’s order. The judge ordered the Justice Department to redact the affidavit for possible release, not to redact and release it.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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