US Attorney General refuses to justify raid on Donald Trump’s villa

The U.S. Department of Justice on August 16 refused to release an affidavit from an unknown person that opened the way for an extraordinary FBI search last week at the residence of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Agents raided his Florida villa to find secret documents he took with him after leaving office. The refusal was given to requests from Reuters, Washington Post and The New York Times. The 13-page US Justice Department response states that “disclosure of the specific content of the warrant’s affidavit could change the trajectory of the investigation, reveal current and future investigative activities, and undermine the ability of agents to gather evidence.” In addition, the release of such information, according to the department, could have “destructive consequences for the reputation and rights” of individuals whose actions are being investigated.

Prior to this, on August 12, US Attorney General Merrick Garland (head of the Department of Justice), on the contrary, urged the court to make public the reason for the search. This was done after Trump himself demanded that the FBI return the papers in a post on his social network Truth Social, thus acknowledging their seizure and calling the incident “an act of political retribution.” The ex-president refused to testify, referring to the fifth article of the American constitution, which gives the right not to testify against oneself.