Authorities on Wednesday uncovered more parts of the affidavit the FBI used nearly a year ago to obtain a warrant to search former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
big picture: slightly less edited document underscores the abundance of evidence gathered by investigators before the raid, which recovered more than 100 classified documents, eventually led to the first federal indictment of a former US president.
- The newly unpublished details include evidence from surveillance footage showing Trump aide Walt Nota moving boxes in May and June, referred to in the affidavit as “Witness 5.”
- Nauta faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to obstruct justice and making a false statement, and is due to face a hearing on the charges on Thursday.
News run: a federal judge in Florida ordered It released updated documents on last August’s raid, but said it declined a request by a coalition of media organizations to open it completely “to comply with grand jury confidentiality rules and protect investigative sources and methods.” Will do
plot: Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart said in his order Wednesday that a certain portion must remain under seal because it “identifies investigative steps that have not yet been made public.”
For the record: Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges related to maintaining classified information and obstruction of justice.
- Asked for comment on the new release, a spokesman for Trump said the former president offered to cooperate in returning the documents, but the Justice Department declined and continued with the raids.
- Representatives for the DOJ did not immediately respond to Axios’ request for comment.
Read the full updated Trump Mar-a-Lago search warrant, via DocumentCloud,
More from Axios:
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with comment and further context from a spokeswoman for former President Trump.