Trump was up in the middle of the night again, and that is entirely understandable. If federal agents just searched your house and found top secret and special clearance documents pertaining to nuclear weapons, you too would be up at night. But the man who asked Merrick Garland how he could “reduce the heat” around the country made his most dangerous demand yet. He wants the affidavit in support of the warrant released “in the interests of transparency.”
He wants it unredacted. His demand would require the release of the identity of the informant. Trump wrote:
There is no way to justify the unannounced RAID of Mar-a-Lago, the home of the 45th President of the United States (who got more votes, by far, than any sitting President in the history of our Country!), by a very large number of gun toting FBI Agents, and the Department of “Justice” but, in the interest of TRANSPARENCY, I call for the immediate release of the completely Unredacted Affidavit pertaining to this horrible and shocking BREAK-IN. Also, the Judge on this case should recuse!
Parts of the statement are almost giggle-worthy, Trump having to remind people it’s the “home of the 45th President of the United States.” But then he implies that he is being the selfless one here, and he will allow the court and DOJ to release the affidavit in support of the search, “unredacted.”
Obviously, the unredacted release would – again, name the informant, which would put that person’s life in grave danger from the MAGAs and – if one wants to contemplate the conspiratorial – possible danger from some of Trump’s darker alleged allies from Eastern Europe. The informant is in enough danger knowing that a trial may be necessary or a leak might spring.
Ironically, the affidavit itself would contain information that would likely be absolutely devastating to Trump. It almost surely sets out the dangerous materials Trump is holding, the numerous attempts to retrieve those materials, and even perhaps evidence regarding what the FBI believes Trump might do with the materials, all or some of which would surely cause some of Trump’s reluctant supporters in Congress to turn on him. The affidavit would set out behavior that is simply indefensible. Trump knows that if the affidavit were released, it would hurt him deeply, but he knows they will not release it, especially unredacted.
The statement is crafted to look like Trump is the one giving something up, “allowing” it to be released as if that is under Trump’s control. It is not, and now Trump can scream about it being unfair that the FBI won’t be transparent. Trump’s attorneys either have or will have a copy of the affidavit, but the name of the informant will likely be redacted.
The call for the judge to recuse himself is simply bizarre and meant to make it look like it’s an anti-Trump, Obama-appointed judge, which wouldn’t be any reason to recuse himself anyway. But U.S. Magistrates are appointed by the district judges of that particular district and are not political appointments. Additionally, as an attorney, Judge Reinhart supported Republican candidates. Trump’s demand is absolutely meaningless except as a means to increase the heat once again.
Of course, this is the man who contacted Garland – through an intermediary – to “ask” how he can reduce the heat given that the country is raging against this horrible “raid.” Even though the FBI walked out with exactly what they sought, and the materials were illegal to hold, Trump is, once again, playing the victim despite being solely at fault.
Morning Joe just reported that DOJ requested that the judge keep the affidavit under seal as one would expect.
@JasonMiciak believes a day without learning is a day not lived. He is a political writer, features writer, author, and attorney. He is a Canadian-born dual citizen who spent his teen and college years in the Pacific Northwest and has since lived in seven states. He now enjoys life as a single dad of a young girl, writing from the beaches of the Gulf Coast. He loves crafting his flower pots, cooking, and currently studies philosophy of science, religion, and non-math principles behind quantum mechanics and cosmology. Please feel free to contact for speaking engagements or any concerns.
