US judge leans towards releasing part of affidavit behind search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate
ABCA US federal judge is leaning towards making parts of the affidavit supporting the search warrant for former president Donald Trump’s estate in Florida public and has ordered the Justice Department to put forward proposed redactions. Key points: The Justice Department says the investigation into whether Donald Trump illegally stored classified documents is in its "early stages" It has been argued unsealing the affidavit for the search of Mr Trump's Florida estate would expose the next steps for federal agents An attorney representing media organisations said releasing it was in the "public interest" Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart has given prosecutors a week to submit a copy of the affidavit with proposed redactions for the information it wants to keep secret after the FBI seized classified and top secret information during a search at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate last week. The justice department said the investigation into whether Mr Trump illegally stored classified records at his Florida estate and potentially violated the Espionage Act was still "in its early stages". Attorneys for several news organisations argued the affidavit's release would help the public determine if the Justice Department had legitimate reasons for the search.