The US Attorney General commented on the incidents after increasing public pressure.
(Photo: Reuters)
new York US Attorney General Merrick Garland has personally endorsed the decision to seek a search warrant on former US President Donald Trump’s home. That’s what Garland said on Thursday at a short-notice speech in Washington. “The search warrant was granted by a federal court following the required determination of reasonable suspicion.”
Garland added: “The Department does not take such a decision lightly. Wherever possible, less intrusive means are sought as an alternative to a search, and any search is strictly limited.” The FBI searched Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, Florida, home last Monday.
The process is considered unprecedented in US history. Trump was not at his home during the search. He and other Republicans have criticized the search and accused Democratic US President Joe Biden of politicizing the FBI.
Garland said Thursday he could not comment on the details of the search. However, given the public interest and Trump’s confirmation of the incident, his department has petitioned a federal court to release the search warrant and receipt for any items seized.
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Garland emphasized, “All Americans have the right to equitable application of the law, due process, and the presumption of innocence.”
In response to attacks from the Republican Party on FBI officials, Garland stated, “The men and women of the FBI and Justice Department are dedicated patriotic public servants every day.” CNN reported online death threats against the agents. Trump fans called for arming themselves and going to Mar-a-Lago.
The FBI searched the former US President’s home on Monday.
(Photo: AP)
In the past few days, Garland had been under increasing pressure to declare himself a case. After the search, both the FBI and the Department of Justice remained adamantly silent about the search. However, the usually well-informed New York Times and other media outlets repeatedly cited anonymous sources familiar with the investigation.
The background to the search was apparently Trump’s handling of documents from his tenure. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the National Archives, which is responsible for storing presidential correspondence, suspected several boxes of confidential material were in Mar-a-Lago. Trump finally handed over several documents to the agency in January.
According to US media reports, there was then a further exchange between investigators and Trump’s lawyers. Officials suspected Trump or his team were continuing to withhold important documents, the Washington Post wrote. The FBI is said to have taken twelve boxes. According to the newspaper, among the documents found were secret documents on American nuclear weapons.
Alleged FBI crackdown on Donald Trump
This marks the end of an eventful week for Trump. On Wednesday, the New York Attorney General summoned him for questioning over possible illegal business practices. However, Trump relied on his constitutional right to remain silent.
The ex-president described the court-ordered search as a “siege” and spoke of “dark times for our nation” and “conditions like in a third world country.” Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, countered: ” No one is above the law, not even a former President of the United States.”
With material from dpa.
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