Now, the hearing to determine whether the probable cause affidavit will be made public by Judge Bruce Reinhardt who was the Federal Magiste who approved the Mar-a-Lago search warrant has been scheduled. Judge Bruce Reinhardt has a history of scandals and will listen to arguments Thursday.
Donald Trump requested the release Monday of the affidavit, insisting that it would allow for much-needed transparency regarding what has happened. DOJ officials also provided numerous reasons for keeping the document secret.
Juan Gonzalez, the US Attorney for South Florida and Jay Bratt, Justice Department Counterintelligence Chief Jay Bratt stated in court filings that publication of the document would expose cooperating witnesses and violate grand jury secrecy.
“If disclosed, the affidavit would serve as a roadmap to the government’s ongoing investigation, providing specific details about its direction and likely course, in a manner that is highly likely to compromise future investigative steps,” the prosecutors wrote.
The authorities also said, “The fact that this investigation implicates highly classified materials further underscores the need to protect the integrity of the investigation.”
The DOJ’s completely earned lack of credibility makes these excuses ring hollow. Is the argument that names can’t be redacted? It also doesn’t make much sense that showing the probable cause of the raid would “serve as a roadmap to the government’s ongoing investigation.” If the investigation is legitimate, then who cares if the public is made aware of what charges are being pursued? Either the evidence exists or it doesn’t. Right now, it feels a whole lot like it doesn’t and that the DOJ is trying to hide how weak its case is.
Then there’s the nod to classified material being the issue, which will never cease to be ridiculous given that the DOJ did not care one iota about the classified material Hillary Clinton illegally trafficked in. Trump was able to release classified documents, which is a different thing than Clinton. There is no legal basis to argue that Trump declassified him while he was walking out of his office. The president is “the process” when it comes to classification, and no prior notice to any part of the bureaucracy is needed.
Because it’s a political dumpster fire, the DOJ will do its best to modify the rules. The success of these cases will depend on the judge that they are placed before. Unfortunately for Trump, if he’s charged, it’ll be in Washington, DC, and that means leftwing judges and juries eager to get the orange man. Perhaps that’s why the DOJ wants the affidavit kept secret. They know they don’t have anything and are relying on breaking precedent, but they also know they Not required To have any chance of being convicted in this corrupt city.
Regardless, in the end, I’d guess the affidavit remains sealed. Judge Reinhardt has no reason to help Trump out by forcing its release, and the government will do what it always does, which is claim the world will spontaneously combust if their “sources and methods” are exposed. It’s the same act every single time one of these high-profile cases comes up, and the judiciary is more than apt to keep the status quo rolling. This is how the game works.
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