In exceptional circumstances, exceptional measures. Three days after the spectacular FBI search of Donald Trump’s home in Florida, and while the entire Republican Party denounces the instrumentalization of the Department of Justice, its boss, Attorney General Merrick Garland, broke his silence on Thursday. In a short press conference, he confirmed that he personally authorized the request to obtain a search warrant from a Florida judge. And on Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an appeal to have the warrant and inventory of seized documents made public. Merrick Garland did not give details, but if Donald Trump kept any classified material after the end of his presidency, it is a felonya crime punishable by imprisonment.
It is extremely rare for an attorney general to comment on an ongoing investigation. But for three days, Donald Trump has been denouncing a witch hunt, and Republicans have been calling on Merrick Garland to provide details on this unprecedented raid in American history.
Documents sensibles
Recalling that the law and the practices of the DOJ prevent him from giving details, Merrick Garland made a point of clarifying several points. The main thing: he “personally authorized the decision to request a search warrant”, and he “did not take the decision lightly”. In general, alternative methods “less intrusive” than a visit by federal agents are preferred, he said. According to American media, the DOJ had obtained a subpoena in the spring forcing Donald Trump to return documents taken to Florida when he left the White House. Obviously, the former president did not comply, which justified a search.
The latter was overseen by the FBI’s counterintelligence division. This suggests the possible presence of particularly sensitive confidential documents. According to CNN, some would affect national security.