National

Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday that the Department of Justice is filing a motion to unseal parts of the search warrant for former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. 

Driving the news: Garland also said that he "personally approved the decision to seek a search warrant in this matter." 

"The department does not take such a decision lightly. Where possible, it is standard practice to seek less intrusive means as an alternative to a search and to narrowly scope any search that is undertaken," Garland said.

The big picture: The FBI on Monday searched Trump's Florida residence in what is likely related to documents Trump took from the White House that may have been classified, two sources familiar with the matter told Axios' Jonathan Swan.

When a search warrant is requested for a major figure, such as a former president, "it goes through a long review process," Gene Rossi, a former federal prosecutor, previously told Axios.

Details: "Both the warrant and the FBI property receipt were provided on the day of the search to the former president's counsel, who was on site during the search," Garland said.

 The Justice Department has moved to unseal the search warrant signed and approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Aug. 5, "including Attachments A and B" and "the redacted Property Receipt listing items seized pursuant to the search, filed with the Court on August 11, 2022."

"In these circumstances involving a search of the residence of a former President, the government hereby requests that the Court unseal the Notice of Filing and its attachment (Docket Entry 17), absent objection by former President Trump," the filing states.

State of play: Garland also addressed "unfounded attacks on the Justice Department agents and prosecutors" in the aftermath of the search. 

"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 every day." 

"Every day they protect the American people from violent crime, terrorism and other threats to their safety, while safeguarding our civil rights." 

"They do so at great personal sacrifice and risk to themselves. I am honored to work alongside them," he said. 

Trump said in a Truth Social post Thursday after Garland's press conference that Mar-a-Lago was raided "out of nowhere and with no warning" by "very large numbers of agents." He claimed he and his representatives had been cooperating fully.

" The government could have had whatever they wanted, if we had it," he said.

"They got way ahead of themselves," he added.

Between the lines: Hours before Garland's remarks, an armed person tried to break into the FBI building in Cincinnati, leading to a lockdown in the nearby area.

What he's saying: "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 said.

"Much of our work is by necessity conducted out of the public eye. We do that to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans and to protect the integrity of our investigations." 

Go deeper: Presidential Records Act and Trump search explained

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.

Garland says he “personally approved” search warrant at Trump’s residence

"Upholding the rule of law means applying the law evenly without fear or favor."

U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland attends a news conference at the U.S. Department of Justice August 2, 2022

Merrick Garland

Politics & Policy

Axios Sneak Peek

A judge on Friday unsealed certain documents related to the search warrant for former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.

Why it matters: The unsealed warrant and inventory provides a glimpse into the items seized during the search and what potential crimes the Department of Justice is investigating, including those related to Trump's handling of presidential records.

The Department of Justice is investigating Trump to determine if he violated federal laws by gathering, transmitting or losing defense information, concealed, removed, or mutilated government documents or falsified records in federal investigations, according to the warrant.

Driving the news:  The inventory shows the FBI removed 11 sets of classified information from the Trump property, including some marked as "top secret." 

The documents also confirm FBI removed classified documents that were only meant to be kept in secure government facilities.

The revelations undercut Trump and his allies’ claims that the search warrant was baseless.

The big picture: Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a surprise briefing on Thursday that the Justice Department had filed a motion to unseal parts of the search warrant for Trump's residence.

The motion requested that the court unseal the search warrant, "absent objection by former President Trump."

Trump late on Thursday said that he will "not oppose the release of documents," adding that he is "going a step further by ENCOURAGING the immediate release of those documents," he wrote on his Truth Social account.

Trump's post all but guaranteed the release of the warrant.

Republicans, who since the raid have demanded that the Justice Department release the search warrant, have also asked for the release of the affidavit that supported the warrant.

That would disclose more details about the investigation, including the probable cause that warranted the search in the first place.

Catch up quick: The judge who approved the search warrant, Bruce Reinhart, asked the Justice Department to consult with Trump's legal team and determine by Friday at 3 p.m. whether Trump supported the motion to unseal.

Between the lines: The Justice Department does not typically release information publicly on criminal investigations, especially when the investigation is ongoing.

But Garland said the DOJ filed the motion "in light of the former president's public confirmation of the search, the surrounding circumstances and the substantial public interest in this matter."

Agents collected 21 labeled boxes that contained either "miscellaneous confidential documents," "miscellaneous secret documents" or "miscellaneous top secret documents," according to the warrant.

They also seized an executive grant of clemency for Trump's associate Roger Stone, "Info re: President of France," a leatherbound box of documents, two binders of photos, a handwritten note and "Various classified/TS/SCI documents," referring to documents containing "top Secret" or "sensitive compartmented information."

Editor's note: This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Go deeper... Garland says he “personally approved” search warrant at Trump’s residence

Judge unseals warrant and inventory related to Mar-a-Lago search

The former president late on Thursday said that he will "not oppose the release of documents."

Former president Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Donald Trump

A judge on Friday <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unsealed certain documents related" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/11/merrick-garland-trump-mar-a-lago-search-fbi" data-vars-content-id="2c6efe39-ba10-43c1-bbc1-798be3dddee1" data-vars-headline="Judge unseals warrant and inventory related to Mar-a-Lago search" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/11/merrick-garland-trump-mar-a-lago-search-fbi" target="_self">unsealed certain documents related</a> to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="search warrant" data-vars-click-url="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.617854/gov.uscourts.flsd.617854.17.0_10.pdf" data-vars-content-id="2c6efe39-ba10-43c1-bbc1-798be3dddee1" data-vars-headline="Judge unseals warrant and inventory related to Mar-a-Lago search" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.617854/gov.uscourts.flsd.617854.17.0_10.pdf" target="_blank">search warrant</a> for former President Trump&#x27;s Mar-a-Lago residence.Why it matters: The unsealed warrant and inventory provides a glimpse into the items seized during the search and what potential crimes the Department of Justice is investigating, including those related to Trump&#x27;s handling of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="presidential records" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/trump-presidential-records-fbi-warrant" data-vars-content-id="2c6efe39-ba10-43c1-bbc1-798be3dddee1" data-vars-headline="Judge unseals warrant and inventory related to Mar-a-Lago search" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/trump-presidential-records-fbi-warrant" target="_self">presidential records</a>.

The affidavit in support of the search warrant for former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence remains under seal, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) said Friday during a press conference urging the Justice Department to release more information.

The big picture: The affidavit would lay out details about the investigation, including what prosecutors believed was the probable cause to warrant the search in the first place, the New York Times notes.

"The real story will be with the release of the affidavit itself, which is not currently planned to be released — it is filed under seal," Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent, said during the press conference held by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee.

"The prosecution does have to repeatedly go back to the court and ask that it remain under seal. There is a baseline presumption that that document be released to the public in the interest of transparency."

"That's what's going to tell us really what most of us want to know," he said.

What they're saying: Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, on Friday urged for transparency in what led to the investigation.

"If these things rise to the level of national security threats, to which there is immediate need to enter the residence of a former president ... that should have a higher level of scrutiny, right?"

"But just tell us .... if there are rational answers for it, then [Attorney General Merrick Garland] needs to come to this committee to disclose what the classified information is, disclose what the national security threat is so that we know."

What to watch: By 3 p.m. on Friday, a federal judge in Florida will have an answer on whether Trump opposes the Justice Department's request to unseal parts of the search warrant executed at Mar-a-Lago.

Go deeper... What we know — and don't know — about Trump and the FBI

House Republicans eye affidavit in call for more details on Trump search

"The real story will be with the release of the affidavit itself, which is not currently planned to be released."

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol August 12, 2022 in Washington, DC

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 12 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The affidavit in support of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="search warrant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/trump-raid-mar-a-lago-fbi" data-vars-content-id="57d76417-5853-48d3-918b-4f8f4df89bbb" data-vars-headline="House Republicans eye affidavit in call for more details on Trump search" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/trump-raid-mar-a-lago-fbi" target="_self">search warrant</a> for former President Trump&#x27;s Mar-a-Lago residence remains under seal, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) said Friday during a press conference urging the Justice Department to release more information.The big picture: The affidavit would lay out details about the investigation, including what prosecutors believed was the probable cause to warrant the search in the first place, the New York Times <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="notes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/us/politics/affadavit.html" data-vars-content-id="57d76417-5853-48d3-918b-4f8f4df89bbb" data-vars-headline="House Republicans eye affidavit in call for more details on Trump search" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/us/politics/affadavit.html" target="_blank">notes</a>.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has filed a lawsuit against the German parliament over its decision to strip him of some of his allowances because of his ties to Russia, German wire service DPA reports.

Driving the news: The German parliament's finance committee in May cut funding for Schröder's staff, an annual expense of about 400,000 euros, or $412,000, and office space.

The committee also issued a regulation saying former chancellors who don't have ongoing obligations connected to their former role should no longer be given an office, Politico reports.

Schröder's lawyer called the decision unlawful and said that it is unclear what "ongoing obligations" mean.

The big picture: Schröder, who was chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the New York Times notes. He was the 

Schröder has reportedly traveled to Moscow at least two times in recent months, and he's come under fire for calling for negotiations with Putin.

Go deeper... German chancellor points to "indications" that Kremlin is still open to dialogue

Former German chancellor with ties to Russia sues over lost privileges

The German parliament's finance committee in May cut funding for Schröder's staff and office space.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Photo: Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images

Germany

Former German Chancellor <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gerhard Schröder" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/01/nord-stream-2-bankruptcy" data-vars-content-id="df513043-0a36-429a-ba3b-7adf26e9bda8" data-vars-headline="Former German chancellor with ties to Russia sues over lost privileges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/01/nord-stream-2-bankruptcy" target="_self">Gerhard Schröder</a> has filed a lawsuit against the German parliament over its decision to strip him of some of his allowances because of his ties to Russia, German wire service DPA <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://nordot.app/93070126995911475" data-vars-content-id="df513043-0a36-429a-ba3b-7adf26e9bda8" data-vars-headline="Former German chancellor with ties to Russia sues over lost privileges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nordot.app/93070126995911475" target="_blank">reports</a>.Driving the news: The German parliament&#x27;s finance committee in May cut funding for Schröder&#x27;s staff, an annual expense of about 400,000 euros, or $412,000, and office space.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) in her closing ad before her primary election next week slammed fellow Republicans who she said are spreading "poisonous lies" about the 2020 election.

Driving the news: The false claims that the 2020 election was stolen "is a cancer that threatens our great republic," said Cheney, the vice chair of the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack and a fierce critic of former President Trump. 

"History has shown us over and over again how these types of poisonous lies destroy free nations," she said.

The big picture: Former Vice President Dick Cheney in a viral ad earlier this week attacked Trump as a "coward," one week before his daughter's primary election, Axios' Alayna Treene reports. 

Polls show Cheney is in danger of being defeated by her Trump-backed opponent, Harriet Hageman, Treene notes.

But Cheney may be playing the long game, potentially preparing for a 2024 presidential run.

What she's saying: "America cannot remain free if we abandon the truth. The lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen is insidious. It preys on those who love their country," Cheney says in the ad. 

"It is a door Donald Trump opened to manipulate Americans to abandon their principals, to sacrifice their freedom, to justify violence, to ignore the rulings of our courts and the rule of law." 

"This is Donald Trump's legacy, but it cannot be the future of our nation."

Go deeper: Viral Cheney ad to air on Fox News

Cheney slams "poisonous lies" about 2020 election in closing campaign ad

"History has shown us over and over again how these types of poisonous lies destroy free nations."

Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, speaks during a hearing for the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack

Rep. Liz Cheney speaks during a hearing for the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 atttack on July 27. Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Liz Cheney

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="her closing ad" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/VaughnHillyard/status/1557741490310299648" data-vars-content-id="f8642e52-2f1b-4b1c-a683-85ce8cbd0779" data-vars-headline="Cheney slams &quot;poisonous lies&quot; about 2020 election in closing campaign ad" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/VaughnHillyard/status/1557741490310299648" target="_blank">her closing ad</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="before her primary election" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/04/liz-cheney-wyoming-republicans-trump-hageman" data-vars-content-id="f8642e52-2f1b-4b1c-a683-85ce8cbd0779" data-vars-headline="Cheney slams &quot;poisonous lies&quot; about 2020 election in closing campaign ad" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/04/liz-cheney-wyoming-republicans-trump-hageman" target="_self">before her primary election</a> next week slammed fellow Republicans who she said are spreading &quot;poisonous lies&quot; about the 2020 election.Driving the news: The false claims that the 2020 election was stolen &quot;is a cancer that threatens our great republic,&quot; said Cheney, the vice chair of the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack and a fierce critic of former President Trump.

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Judge unseals warrant and inventory related to Mar-a-Lago search

House Republicans eye affidavit in call for more details on Trump search

Former German chancellor with ties to Russia sues over lost privileges

Garland says he “personally approved” search warrant at Trump’s residence

Cheney slams "poisonous lies" about 2020 election in closing campaign ad