Judge tells DOJ to submit redacted Mar-a-Lago affidavit

U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Thursday gave the Department of Justice a week to suggest redactions to a search warrant affidavit it filed in an investigation of former President Donald Trump. Lawyers for the department argued in a hearing that their investigation was “in its early stages” and that releasing the affidavit would provide a “road map” to the inquiry. Attorneys for several media organizations that are seeking the release of the affidavit said it is in the best interest of the public due to concerns that the investigation and the search were politically motivated.

What happens after next Thursday? Reinhart said he will review the Justice Department’s proposed redactions after they submit them. After he reviews the redactions, he said, he might meet with government officials to discuss why they want certain information withheld from the affidavit.

Dig deeper: Read Lynn Vincent’s report in WORLD magazine about how the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago may signal a new era in U.S. politics.