The U.S. Justice Department asked a judge on Thursday to make public the warrant that authorized an FBI search of Donald Trump's Florida home after the former president himself confirmed the search.
Trump attacked the search as an act of political retribution. The request means the public could learn more about what investigators were looking for at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach on Monday during the unprecedented search of a former president's home, Reuters reported.
The search was part of an investigation into whether Trump illegally removed records from the White House as he left office, some of which the Justice Department believes are classified, the publication reported.
Attorney General Merrick Garland in a news conference said that he personally approved the decision to order the search. He added, “The department also seeks to make public a redacted receipt of the items seized.”
US law enforcement officials typically do not discuss ongoing investigations to protect people's rights. In this case, Trump himself announced the search in a Monday night statement. Garland said the Justice Department made the request "in light of the former president's public confirmation of the search, the surrounding circumstances and the substantial public interest in this matter." A source familiar with the matter said the FBI retrieved about 10 boxes from Trump's property during the search, Reuters reported.
