News organizations including The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network, today will appear before magistrate judge, Bruce Reinhart, in West Palm Beach to push for the release of a document that would reveal why the U.S. Justice Department asked to search ex-President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.
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Scene outside federal courthouse where hearing on releasing more documents from Mar-a-Lago search will start soon
The 1 p.m. hearing at U.S. District court in West Palm Beach is open to the public. It will not be broadcast on TV or online.
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Rules in federal courthouses are strict. No cell phones are allowed. Cameras are also prohibited. That’s why news organizations often hire sketch artists for high-profile trials.
Why is the media requesting more documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago search?
News organizations have already reported many details about key information prosecutors and FBI agents gathered that led to the search of Mar-a-Lago, through the search warrant and “inventory list,” but they want more, such as the probable cause affidavit (PC), which would provide much more information.
But PCs are rarely made public before an indictment is made because of fear of jeopardizing an investigation.
Attorneys for the media companies, including The Palm Beach Post, are expected to acknowledge the U.S. Justice Department’s concerns that the release of the entire probable cause affidavit could “irreparably harm” its ongoing investigation, said attorney Martin Reeder, who represents The Palm Beach Post.
Media attorneys pushed back against federal prosecutors’ claims that the entire document should be kept from the public.
Rather than sealing the entire document, as prosecutors want, they will ask U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart to release as much information as possible.
“We want as much as can be disclosed,” Reeder said. “Anything that doesn’t damage their investigation.”