He told reporters the DOJ had filed a motion in the Southern District of Florida to unseal the search warrant and property receipt used in the Monday raid, but could give no further information about it. Garland noted both documents were provided to Trump’s counsel at the time of the search.
In the Thursday filing, the DOJ argues the warrant should be unsealed because of “significant interest and attention from news media organizations and other entities” following Trump’s own voluntary release of information confirming the search.
“Faithful adherence to the rule of law is the bedrock principle of the Justice Department and of our democracy. Upholding the rule of law means applying the law evenly without fear or favor,” Garland told reporters. “Under my watch, that is precisely what the Justice Department is doing. All Americans are entitled to the even-handed application of the law, to due process of the law, and to the presumption of innocence.”
The search was reportedly focused on documents Trump allegedly took from the White House at the end of his presidency instead of surrendering them to the US National Archives, as he is required to do by the Presidential Records Act. Earlier this year, the Archives retrieved 15 boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago and a federal grand jury subpoenaed the remaining documents in May.
The attorney general confirmed he personally approved the search warrant, which the Thursday filing confirms took place on August 5. He added that the DOJ “does not take such decisions lightly.”
Garland also sought to respond to the wave of “unfounded attacks” targeting the FBI, a federal law enforcement bureau, that has followed news of the raid.
“I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked. The men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department are dedicated patriotic public servants,” Garland said. “I am honored to work alongside them.”
His words followed similar condemnations of criticism and threats by FBI Director Christopher Wray, who called them “deplorable and dangerous.”
The FBI search has been roundly condemned by conservative politicians and commentators, ranging from Fox News pundits like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who threatened to investigate Garland “when Republicans take back the House,” presumably in the November 2022 elections.