The FBI document that formed the basis for the search of a home belonging to former President Donald Trump has been released by the judge’s order, but many passages have been painted black.
The Department of Justice has done so because witnesses, FBI agents, or others involved could be put at risk if their identities were revealed.
The judge had shown understanding, partly because those involved had already been threatened. Parts that could harm criminal investigation have also been censored.
Twenty boxes of some highly confidential government documents were seized at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Media outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, had gone to court to see the document to clarify the possible criminal offenses alleged by police to justify the search.
Earlier this year, the former president handed over 15 boxes of documents to the National Archives. According to the released document, four of these contain documents with the status confidential, secret, or top secret. There were 25 of the latter category. The Justice Department wrote that there were good reasons to believe that “evidence of obstruction” would be found in Trump’s home.
Trump has also advocated lifting the confidential status of the FBI document, partly on the assumption that the case is politically motivated. In addition, he has filed a case demanding that the FBI stop the investigation until a regulator is appointed.
The previously released search warrant and a list of seized items showed that some of the material found in Trump’s residence also had “top secret” status, which must be stored in government facilities according to protocols. This may have violated the Espionage Act.
