(CNN)Federal agents searched former President Donald Trump's home in March. In his first public statement since - according to a-Lago - Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday that the Justice Department has asked the court to open the search warrant and property receipts from the search.
Garland also said he "personally endorsed the decision to seek a search warrant in this matter."
He said authorities did not comment on the investigation on the day it took place. He noted that the search was confirmed by Trump that night.He said the warrant and a copy of the warrant receipt were provided to Trump's attorney who was on the scene during the search.
"In light of the former president's official confirmation of the search, the circumstances surrounding it, and the substantial public interest in the matter, the Justice Department has moved to release the warrant and receipts. filed," he said Garland. “Fidelity to the rule of law is a fundamental principle of the Department of Justice and of our democracy. Upholding the rule of law means applying the law fairly, without fear or favor. Under my supervision, that is exactly what the Department of Justice is doing."
It comes after several days of silence from Garland stressed that some of the department's work must be done outside of public view.
, we are doing so to protect the integrity of our investigation," he said, but explained that he would not provide further details about the basis of the investigation.
Department of Justice was instructed by the court to discuss with Trump a request to open certain warrant documents from the FBI Mar-a-Lago search and notify the court by 3 p.m. Friday. If ET opposes their release.
Justice Department asks court to release documents
The FBI executed a search warrant Monday at a resort in Palm Beach, Florida. of presidential documents, including classified documents that may have been brought there.
Newly filed court documents outline what the Department of Justice officially moved to do on Thursday. The Department executed a search warrant issued by this court based on necessary findings of probable cause at a facility located at 1100 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, Fla. 33480, property of former President Donald J. Trump. is," the motion said.
"When the warrant was first executed, the State Department notified former President Trump's attorneys directly. The Defense Department made no public statement about the search. Later that day, former President Trump said: "Since then, the search warrant and related materials have been the subject of significant interest and attention from the press and other entities," the Justice Department wrote.
DOJ claims to have the search warrant unsealed because of the "strong public interest brought about by the search of the former president's residence."
The filing confirms that the search warrant was "signed and approved by the Court on 5 August." On Thursday, the DOJ filed a "redacted property receipt listing items seized pursuant to an investigation," according to its unsealing motion.
"Former President Trump was provided a copy of each of these documents through his legal counsel on August 8, 2022 as part of the investigation," the file adds.
Earlier this year, officials at the National Archives arranged to retrieve 15 of his boxes of presidential documents from Maralago. In June, federal agents served a grand jury subpoena and confiscated classified national security documents.
Prosecutors then produced evidence that classified documents potentially related to national security remained on the property, according to sources.
His FBI agent under attack
Violent threats have also exploded online since the search. Posters say things like "We need to assassinate Garland" and "We need to kill all federal governments." The biography and contact information of the federal magistrate who supposedly signed the search warrant used in the Mar-a-Lago search was posted on the Florida Courts website after he was also targeted with violent intimidation.
In a message seen by CNN Thursday shortly before the official statement, FBI Director Chris Wray told agency employees that their "safety and security"
There have been many comments this week about the FBI questioning our work and motives. That, and what I see, is an organization made up of men and women who work professionally and are dedicated to working by the book every day. This week is no exception. "
"I will not stand by as their integrity is unfairly attacked. The men and women of the FBI and the Department of Justice are dedicated, patriotic public servants," he said. They do so at great personal cost and risk to themselves. I am honored to work with them.
This article and headline have been updated with additional developments.
