OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit after the historic and unprecedented FBI raid on the private residence of a former U.S. president. The bureau even wrongfully took his passports, which have now been returned.
In the lawsuit, Trump is seeking a detailed inventory and audit of the items seized. The FBI previously provided an inventory of items taken, but conveniently did not list the passports or other items.
So far, the courts have been ruling in Trump’s favor. Judge Bruce Reinhart ruled that the Justice Department must unseal the affidavit leading to the FBI raid even though they argued to keep it sealed. Judge Reinhart rejected the DOJ’s argument to keep the affidavit hidden from Americans.
Reinhart called the raid “unprecedented” and said there is “intense public and historical interest” for unsealing the affidavit. This is a major victory for Trump who has encouraged the release of the affidavit while the DOJ requested to keep it sealed.
It’s widely speculated that the affidavit will shine a light on the fact that the search was politically motivated and a “political scam.”
The affidavit is the place where the DOJ specifies the crime they believe has been committed by Trump. This would be needed to show cause for a federal judge to authorize the Mar-a-Lago raid.
Trump’s lawsuit demands that any items outside scope of the FBI’s warrant must be returned. It also demands the appointment of a special master to audit the items confiscated by the FBI.
“To date, the government has failed to legitimize its historic decision to raid the home of a President who had been fully cooperative,” states the lawsuit, titled Trump v. United States Government.
“The Aug. 8 search warrant at Mar-a-Lago was authorized by a federal court upon the required finding of probably cause. The Department is aware of this evening’s motion. The United States will file its response in court,” DOJ spokesman Anthony Coley said.
More on this story via Daily Wire:
In the lawsuit, filed by three of Trump’s attorneys, the former president’s legal team says that the August 8 raid on his residence appears to be motivated politics than law and order. “[T]he Government has failed to legitimize its historic decision,” the suit says, adding that Attorney General Merrick Garland took the “unheard-of step” in the aftermath of holding a press conference over the raid and agreeing to release part of the search warrant application.
The lawsuit records a short history of Trump’s discussions with the National Archives over documents that the archives wanted retrieved from Mar-a-Lago. The lawsuit describes Trump as cooperative and accommodating with the National Archive’s, and later the Department of Justice’s requests.
The cooperation ended on August 8 when Trump, who was in New York at the time, received a call from Justice Department counterintelligence chief Jay Bratt, informing Trump that the FBI is searching Mar-a-Lago.
“At approximately 9:10a.m., Mr. Bratt telephoned counsel for President Trump and informed him that a group of FBI agents was at Mar-a-Lago to execute a search warrant. Heated discussion ensued as to why the Government did not make a voluntary request to further explore the premises, given the expansive assistance that President Trump had provided to that point,” the lawsuit states.
Trump issued a statement following the filing of his lawsuit in court.
