Trump search judge cites ‘historical interest’ in affidavit
2 years, 4 months ago

Trump search judge cites ‘historical interest’ in affidavit

LA Times  

The judge who approved the search of former President Trump’s Florida estate said “intense public and historical interest” in the FBI affidavit backing the warrant justified making an effort to unseal portions of it. U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart in West Palm Beach, Fla., issued a written order Monday affirming his finding from a hearing last week that the Justice Department hadn’t made its case to keep the FBI’s search-warrant affidavit completely sealed. “Particularly given the intense public and historical interest in an unprecedented search of a former President’s residence, the government has not yet shown that these administrative concerns are sufficient to justify sealing,” the judge wrote. “Given the public notoriety and controversy about this search, it is likely that even witnesses who are not expressly named in the affidavit would be quickly and broadly identified over social media and other communication channels, which could lead to them being harassed and intimidated,” wrote Reinhart, who has also received threats.

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History of this topic

Trump lawyers in classified docs case ask judge to suppress evidence seized during Mar-a-Lago search
6 months ago

Trump lawyers in classified docs case ask judge to suppress evidence seized during Mar-a-Lago search

Associated Press  

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Lawyers for Donald Trump on Tuesday asked the judge presiding over his classified documents case to prevent prosecutors from using as evidence boxes of records seized during an FBI search of his Florida estate. The arguments marked the conclusion of a three-day hearing in which prosecutors and defense lawyers have sparred over topics ranging from the …

Federal Judge rules Espionage Act clear, shoots down Donald Trump's bid to evade charges
9 months, 1 week ago

Federal Judge rules Espionage Act clear, shoots down Donald Trump's bid to evade charges

Hindustan Times  

The federal judge currently presiding over the case of Donald Trump, accused of retaining classified documents, has outright dismissed all attempts by the defendant's legal team to have the case dismissed on the basis that the underlying law was vague. Donald Trump’s presidential records act defence fails to sway federal judge The defence contended that the Espionage Act, which Trump …

US Justice Dept reveals more info about Trump Mar-a-Lago search
1 year, 5 months ago

US Justice Dept reveals more info about Trump Mar-a-Lago search

Al Jazeera  

A federal judge in Florida declined a media request to un-redact the entire affidavit justifying the Mar-a-Lago search. The United States justice department has released more information about the affidavit used to justify the search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022. The affidavit offered justification for the search warrant used to seize documents from the Mar-a-Lago …

In Trump case, Justice Dept. unseals previously blacked-out portions from search warrant application
1 year, 5 months ago

In Trump case, Justice Dept. unseals previously blacked-out portions from search warrant application

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Wednesday disclosed some of the previously blacked-out portions of a warrant application it submitted last year to gain authorization to search former President Donald Trump’s Florida property for classified documents. A magistrate judge, Bruce Reinhart, declined to order the Justice Department to unseal the search warrant affidavit in its entirety but did require prosecutors …

DOJ warrant cites fresh evidence Trump may have moved his documents around to hide them after FBI searches
1 year, 8 months ago

DOJ warrant cites fresh evidence Trump may have moved his documents around to hide them after FBI searches

Raw Story  

The Washington Post reported Sunday afternoon that more evidence might have become available to prove obstructions of justice for the theft of the government documents taken back to Mar-a-Lago. "The additional evidence comes as investigators have used emails and text messages from a former Trump aide to help understand key moments last year," the report explained, citing the sources. The …

Trump lawyer must hand over materials related to classified documents case, court says
1 year, 9 months ago

Trump lawyer must hand over materials related to classified documents case, court says

LA Times  

Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran drafted a statement before the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago last year claiming that a “diligent search” for classified documents had been conducted. A federal appeals court on Wednesday directed a lawyer for Donald Trump to turn over to prosecutors any records related to the former president’s retention of classified documents at his Florida estate. But the …

Justice Dept. seeks end to arbiter’s review of Trump docs
2 years, 2 months ago

Justice Dept. seeks end to arbiter’s review of Trump docs

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department asked a federal appeals court on Friday to shut down the work of an independent arbiter who was appointed last month to review documents seized during an FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate. “Accordingly,” they added, ”the special-master review process is unwarranted.” The Justice Department says it seized about 13,000 records, including …

Justice Dept. asks court to deny Trump plea over FBI search
2 years, 2 months ago

Justice Dept. asks court to deny Trump plea over FBI search

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to steer clear of a legal fight over classified documents seized during an FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate. The Justice Department said in a 32-page filing that Trump’s claim has no merit, noting the case involves “extraordinarily sensitive government records.” A three-judge panel from the …

Trump lawyer who vouched for documents meets with FBI
2 years, 2 months ago

Trump lawyer who vouched for documents meets with FBI

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A lawyer for former president Donald Trump who signed a letter stating that a “diligent search” for classified records had been conducted and that all such documents had been given back to the government has spoken with the FBI, according to a person familiar with the matter. Christina Bobb told federal investigators during Friday’s interview that she had …

Judge unseals additional portions of Mar-a-Lago affidavit
2 years, 3 months ago

Judge unseals additional portions of Mar-a-Lago affidavit

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A federal judge Tuesday unsealed additional portions of an FBI affidavit laying out the basis for a search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, showing that agents earlier obtained a hard drive after issuing a subpoena for surveillance footage recorded inside Mar-a-Lago. A heavily redacted version of the affidavit was made public last month, but the Justice …

Trump lawyers reject Justice Department probe as ‘misguided’
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump lawyers reject Justice Department probe as ‘misguided’

Al Jazeera  

Former US president’s legal team says court freeze on government review of records seized at Mar-a-Lago should persist. Washington, DC – Donald Trump’s lawyers have rejected the US Department of Justice’s push to resume its review of documents seized from the former president’s home during an FBI search last month. The lawyers also questioned whether documents marked “classified” that were …

Trump documents probe: US ready to appeal judge’s hold
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump documents probe: US ready to appeal judge’s hold

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is preparing to appeal a judge’s decision granting the appointment of an independent arbiter to review records seized in a criminal investigation by the FBI from former President Donald Trump’s Florida home. The 21-page Justice Department filing lays bare the government’s concern about the impact it believes will be caused by the judge’s order, which …

Unsealed documents reveal new details from search of Trump’s home
2 years, 3 months ago

Unsealed documents reveal new details from search of Trump’s home

Al Jazeera  

The FBI says it seized empty folders with classified banners and top secret documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. FBI agents found dozens of folders with “classified” banners, some of which were empty, at former US President Donald Trump’s Florida home when they searched it last month, an unsealed inventory of the recovered materials shows. An affidavit released last week revealed …

Donald Trump's lawyers say there is 'no cause for alarm' over FBI's investigation into classified documents
2 years, 3 months ago

Donald Trump's lawyers say there is 'no cause for alarm' over FBI's investigation into classified documents

ABC  

Lawyers for former US president Donald Trump have downplayed the discovery of classified documents at his Florida home, telling a federal judge there was no "cause for alarm". Key points: Mr Trump's attorney says there is "no cause for alarm" The FBI seized more than 100 classified records from Mar-a-Lago in Mr Trump is calling for a special master to …

Feds cite efforts to obstruct probe of docs at Trump estate
2 years, 3 months ago

Feds cite efforts to obstruct probe of docs at Trump estate

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department says classified documents were “likely concealed and removed” from a storage room at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate as part of an effort to obstruct the federal investigation into the discovery of the government records. During a June 3 visit to Mar-a-Lago by FBI and Justice Department officials, the document states, “Counsel for the …

FBI says Trump docs likely moved in effort to obstruct probe
2 years, 3 months ago

FBI says Trump docs likely moved in effort to obstruct probe

Al Jazeera  

The revelation, made in court filings, raises possibility of new criminal implications following Mar-a-Lago raid. The United States Department of Justice has said it has evidence that classified documents were deliberately concealed from federal investigators at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and that “efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation”. The revelation, made in a court filing …

Trump search: What may come next in inquiry with legal peril
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump search: What may come next in inquiry with legal peril

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A newly released FBI document helps flesh out the contours of an investigation into classified material at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate. That document, which the FBI submitted so it could get a warrant to search Trump’s winter home, provides new details about the volume and top secret nature of what was retrieved from Mar-a-Lago in January. …

Takeaways from the unsealed Mar-a-Lago search affidavit
2 years, 3 months ago

Takeaways from the unsealed Mar-a-Lago search affidavit

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Friday unsealed the FBI affidavit justifying the unprecedented search of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The Archives referred the matter to the Justice Department on Feb. 9 after a preliminary review of the boxes found what they described as “a lot of classified records.” THE RECORDS INCLUDED TOP INTELLIGENCE SECRETS Agents who inspected the boxes …

FBI: Trump mixed top secret docs with magazines, other items
2 years, 3 months ago

FBI: Trump mixed top secret docs with magazines, other items

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Fourteen of the 15 boxes recovered from former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate early this year contained classified documents, many of them top secret, mixed in with miscellaneous newspapers, magazines and personal correspondence, according to an FBI affidavit released Friday. No space at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate was authorized for the storage of classified material, according to the court …

Trump mixed top secret documents with magazines and other items, says FBI
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump mixed top secret documents with magazines and other items, says FBI

The Hindu  

Fourteen of the 15 boxes recovered from former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate early this year contained classified documents, many of them top secret, mixed in with miscellaneous newspapers, magazines and personal correspondence, according to an FBI affidavit released Friday. No space at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate was authorized for the storage of classified material, according to the court papers, …

'We gave them much': Trump posts another angry attack on FBI after affidavit released
2 years, 3 months ago

'We gave them much': Trump posts another angry attack on FBI after affidavit released

Raw Story  

Former President Donald Trump reacted to the release of a redacted affidavit about the search of his Mar-a-Lago resort by once again lashing out at the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In a post made on his Truth Social media platform, the twice-impeached former president accused the FBI of running a "break in" of …

DOJ worried Trump's 'criminal confederates' might flee or tamper with evidence in Mar-A-Lago case
2 years, 3 months ago

DOJ worried Trump's 'criminal confederates' might flee or tamper with evidence in Mar-A-Lago case

Raw Story  

The Department of Justice wanted to keep the Mar-A-Lago affidavit sealed because investigators were concerned about tipping off additional suspects in the case. A federal judge ordered the affidavit supporting the search warrant to be unsealed, with redactions of sensitive material, and the document showed that investigators were concerned about revealing the scope of their probe and their sources of …

U.S. Justice Department releases redacted document that underpins Trump search
2 years, 3 months ago

U.S. Justice Department releases redacted document that underpins Trump search

The Hindu  

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday released a redacted version of the legal document that allowed the FBI to seize classified government records from former President Donald Trump's Florida home, a move that could shed more light on the evidence that led to the unprecedented search. U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, who had approved the warrant that led to the …

Read the redacted FBI affidavit that resulted in Mar-a-Lago search warrant
2 years, 3 months ago

Read the redacted FBI affidavit that resulted in Mar-a-Lago search warrant

Raw Story  

A heavily redacted version of the affidavit that justified the FBI raid on former president Donald Trump's Florida residence has been released to the public. A federal judge ordered that the affidavit, whose unredacted version likely explains in detail what the Justice Department is investigating in relation to Trump and possibly reveals sources, must be unsealed by noon Friday. IN …

Judge orders unsealing of redacted affidavit in Trump search
2 years, 3 months ago

Judge orders unsealing of redacted affidavit in Trump search

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A judge ordered the Justice Department on Thursday to make public a redacted version of the affidavit it relied on when federal agents searched the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump to look for classified documents. The directive from U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart came hours after federal law enforcement officials submitted under seal the portions of …

US Justice Department releases Trump search affidavit
2 years, 3 months ago

US Justice Department releases Trump search affidavit

Al Jazeera  

Redacted document provides more information about evidence that led to unprecedented search of Mar-a-Lago this month. The affidavit added that the Department of Justice believed “additional documents that contain classified NDI or that are Presidential records subject to record retention requirements currently remain” at Trump’s home. US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart said last week that he believed “there are portions …

What’s in the affidavit that led FBI to search Mar-a-Lago?
2 years, 3 months ago

What’s in the affidavit that led FBI to search Mar-a-Lago?

Al Jazeera  

The affidavit that was behind the search warrant carried at Donald Trump’s home earlier this month has shed some light about the probe into the former president’s conduct, which has dominated headlines throughout August. Here here key takeaways from the document: The US is conducting a ‘criminal investigation’ into Trump The affidavit spells out what legal scholars had suspected after …

Unsealed affidavit sheds new light on FBI case for Trump Mar-a-Lago search
2 years, 3 months ago

Unsealed affidavit sheds new light on FBI case for Trump Mar-a-Lago search

LA Times  

The FBI believed that additional classified documents would be found in a search of former President Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, according to a heavily redacted affidavit made public Friday, notably asserting in the 38-page document that “there is also probable cause to believe that evidence of obstruction will be found.” In laying out the case for the search, …

US judge orders release of redacted Trump search affidavit
2 years, 4 months ago

US judge orders release of redacted Trump search affidavit

Al Jazeera  

A judge in the United States has ordered the Department of Justice to publicly release a redacted version of an affidavit that underpinned the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home earlier this month. The affidavit – a sworn statement outlining the evidence that gave the Justice Department probable cause to seek a search warrant – is likely …

US judge leans towards releasing part of affidavit behind search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate
2 years, 4 months ago

US judge leans towards releasing part of affidavit behind search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate

ABC  

A 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 …

Judge appears willing to unveil some of Mar-a-Lago affidavit
2 years, 4 months ago

Judge appears willing to unveil some of Mar-a-Lago affidavit

Associated Press  

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Justice Department to put forward proposed redactions as he committed to making public at least part of the affidavit supporting the search warrant for former President Donald Trump’s estate in Florida. It is likely to contain key details about the Justice Department’s investigation examining whether Trump retained and …

Judge gives DOJ until Thursday to submit redacted Mar-a-Lago affidavit: report
2 years, 4 months ago

Judge gives DOJ until Thursday to submit redacted Mar-a-Lago affidavit: report

Raw Story  

The Florida judge who signed off on the FBI's raid on Mar-a-Lago last week told the Justice Department it has until next Thursday to submit a redacted version of the affidavit used to justify the search warrant, Axios reports. "The government shall file under seal ex parte its redactions and any briefing it would like to include," Magistrate Judge Bruce …

Judge Asks DOJ To Submit Redacted Affidavit From Mar-A-Lago Search
2 years, 4 months ago

Judge Asks DOJ To Submit Redacted Affidavit From Mar-A-Lago Search

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING A federal judge on Thursday told prosecutors investigating Donald Trump’s mishandling of classified documents to redact sensitive portions of the affidavit justifying the search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home so that the judge can release it to the public without jeopardizing the ongoing investigation. Prosecutors’ request to seal the warrant and accompanying documents stated “there is good cause …

US judge says open to releasing some evidence behind Trump search
2 years, 4 months ago

US judge says open to releasing some evidence behind Trump search

Al Jazeera  

Media outlets are asking US judge to unseal affidavit laying out evidence for raid of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. During a court hearing on Thursday, US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart said he believed “there are portions of the affidavit that could be unsealed,” referring to the sworn statement laying out the evidence for why there was probable cause to search …

Trump demands DOJ release 'unredacted affidavit' in Mar-a-Lago search in late-night tirade
2 years, 4 months ago

Trump demands DOJ release 'unredacted affidavit' in Mar-a-Lago search in late-night tirade

Raw Story  

Former President Donald Trump posted a late-night tirade on his Truth Social media platform where he demanded that the United States Department of Justice release the unredacted affidavit related to last week's search of his Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump began the post by falsely accusing the DOJ of sending "a very large number of gun toting FBI Agents" to Mar-a-Lago to …

Feds oppose unsealing affidavit for Mar-a-Lago warrant
2 years, 4 months ago

Feds oppose unsealing affidavit for Mar-a-Lago warrant

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Monday rebuffed efforts to make public the affidavit supporting the search warrant for former President Donald Trump’s estate in Florida, saying the investigation “implicates highly classified material” and the document contains sensitive information about witnesses. The court filing — from Juan Antonio Gonzalez, the U.S. attorney in Miami, and Jay Bratt, a top Justice …

Espionage, affidavits, passports: What’s new in US probe of Trump
2 years, 4 months ago

Espionage, affidavits, passports: What’s new in US probe of Trump

Al Jazeera  

FBI raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate has kicked off a political maelstrom and raised questions over the 2024 election. The United States Department of Justice has said it opposes releasing an affidavit – or sworn legal document – that would reveal its justification for raiding former US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The DOJ has unsealed the search warrant and …

Details in latest DOJ filing could 'drive Trump to be even more worried’: legal expert
2 years, 4 months ago

Details in latest DOJ filing could 'drive Trump to be even more worried’: legal expert

Raw Story  

On Monday, former solicitor general Neal Katyal took to Twitter to analyze the significance of the Justice Department's unwillingness to release the unredacted affidavit that helped them secure the search warrant for President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. "That said, what they said — especially about witnesses — will invariably drive Trump to be even more worried." …

US Justice Dept opposes efforts to unseal Trump search affidavit
2 years, 4 months ago

US Justice Dept opposes efforts to unseal Trump search affidavit

Al Jazeera  

Media had sought release of affidavit the government submitted when it requested search warrant for Donald Trump’s home. The United States Justice Department has opposed efforts by media organisations to unseal the affidavit that backed the search warrant for former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, saying the document contains sensitive material. “If disclosed, the affidavit would serve as a roadmap …

FBI seized top secret documents in Trump estate search
2 years, 4 months ago

FBI seized top secret documents in Trump estate search

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The FBI recovered “top secret” and even more sensitive documents from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, according to court papers released Friday after a federal judge unsealed the warrant that authorized the sudden, unprecedented search this week. The property receipt also shows federal agents collected other potential presidential records, including the order pardoning Trump ally …

FBI Found 'Top Secret' Documents At Trump's Home: Reports
2 years, 4 months ago

FBI Found 'Top Secret' Documents At Trump's Home: Reports

Huff Post  

WASHINGTON — The FBI recovered several documents that were labeled as “top secret” from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, according to multiple reports Friday, as a federal judge was weighing whether to unseal the warrant that authorized the unprecedented search this week. In a statement Friday, Trump claimed that the documents seized by agents at his Florida …

Trump calls for ‘immediate release’ of search warrant docs ahead of Friday deadline
2 years, 4 months ago

Trump calls for ‘immediate release’ of search warrant docs ahead of Friday deadline

Raw Story  

Shortly before midnight on Thursday evening, former President Donald Trump announced that we would not oppose the Department of Justice motion to unseal the Mar-a-Lago search warrant and redacted property receipt listing the items seized. Trump has had the search warrant since Monday, but has refused to reveal it himself. Trump wrote, "Not only will I not oppose the release …

FBI recovered ‘top secret’ documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home
2 years, 4 months ago

FBI recovered ‘top secret’ documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home

Al Jazeera  

The FBI recovered documents that were labeled “top secret” from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, according to court papers released after a federal judge unsealed the warrant that authorised the unprecedented search this week. He did so after Attorney General Merrick Garland declared Thursday there was “substantial public interest in this matter”, and Trump backed the warrant’s …

Trump says he won't oppose the release of documents tied to the Mar-a-Lago search
2 years, 4 months ago

Trump says he won't oppose the release of documents tied to the Mar-a-Lago search

NPR  

Trump says he won't oppose the release of documents tied to the Mar-a-Lago search LEILA FADEL, HOST: After days of silence, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced he wants to make the Mar-a-Lago search warrant public and submitted a request to a federal court to release it. We're going to bring you different angles this morning on the story surrounding the …

US Attorney-General Merrick Garland personally approved search of Donald Trump's home for suspected illegal records
2 years, 4 months ago

US Attorney-General Merrick Garland personally approved search of Donald Trump's home for suspected illegal records

ABC  

US Attorney-General Merrick Garland says federal agents searched former president Donald Trump's Florida estate as part of an investigation into whether he illegally removed records from the White House as he was leaving office. Key points: The Justice Department has asked a court to unseal the search warrant Donald Trump has also called for its release Trump supporters and some …

Trump lawyers agree to public release of Mar-a-Lago search warrant for White House documents
2 years, 4 months ago

Trump lawyers agree to public release of Mar-a-Lago search warrant for White House documents

CBS News  

Search warrant: Trump investigated under Espionage Act Trump investigated under Espionage Act, search warrant says 04:00 Washington — Donald Trump's attorneys agreed to the public release of the search warrant authorizing the FBI's seizure of documents from his Florida home, according to court papers filed Friday. Garland said Thursday that the investigation and subsequent search of Trump's property were not …

Trump lawyers agree to public release of Mar-a-Lago search warrant for White House documents
2 years, 4 months ago

Trump lawyers agree to public release of Mar-a-Lago search warrant for White House documents

CBS News  

Search warrant: Trump investigated under Espionage Act Trump investigated under Espionage Act, search warrant says 04:00 Washington — Donald Trump's attorneys agreed to the public release of the search warrant authorizing the FBI's seizure of documents from his Florida home, according to court papers filed Friday. Garland said Thursday that the investigation and subsequent search of Trump's property were not …

U.S. Justice Deptartment seeks to unseal search warrant of Trump’s home
2 years, 4 months ago

U.S. Justice Deptartment seeks to unseal search warrant of Trump’s home

The Hindu  

The Justice Department has asked a court to unseal the warrant the FBI received before searching the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday, acknowledging the extraordinary public interest in the case. But the Justice Department appeared to recognise that its silence since the search had created a vacuum for bitter attacks from the …

Garland defends Trump home search, moves to make details public
2 years, 4 months ago

Garland defends Trump home search, moves to make details public

Al Jazeera  

Ex-President Donald Trump, who has declined so far to reveal FBI warrant’s contents, says will not oppose its release. United States Attorney General Merrick Garland has said the Department of Justice has asked a federal judge to unseal the court-approved warrant used to search former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence earlier this week. “Release the documents now!” he wrote, repeating …

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