DOJ Moves to Unseal Mar-a-Lago Search Warrant

The Justice Department asked a federal court to unseal the search warrant executed by the FBI at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday. 

Garland also said he “personally approved the decision to seek a search warrant in this matter,” adding that the decision was not made “lightly” and that it was “standard practice” to “seek less intrusive means” where possible. The same day, multiple outlets reported that Trump had been issued a subpoena months before Monday’s FBI raid. The attorney general declined to say more, because “federal law, longstanding department rules, and our ethical obligations” prevented him from saying more.

Garland added that he would not “stand by silently” while the integrity of FBI personnel was “unfairly attacked,” saying, “The men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department are dedicated, patriotic public servants.”

Coverage was widespread and prominently featured across the spectrum, with several major outlets covering Garland’s remarks live. Major bias trends were not immediately clear following Garland's remarks.