Following Monday’s FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump and his allies launched a furious attack on the FBI and the Justice Department for what Trump calls “political persecution” and are demanding Attorney General Merrick Garland give an explanation for the move. But people are turning the table on the former president by demanding that he release the FBI search warrant —which he has had in his possession since yesterday— to prove that he has nothing to hide.
As noted by former solicitor general Neal Katyal, Trump could voluntarily release the FBI search warrant used at Mar-a-Lago. And people are challenging him to do exactly that.
“Donald Trump, you have a copy of the warrant. It explains what they were looking for, what statutes they think were violated, and what judge signed off on that. Release the warrant. You called on [Barack] Obama to release the birth certificate and all sorts of nonsense. If you believe this is such an abuse, let us see the warrant and let us decide for ourselves,” Katyal wrote on Twitter.
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, a member of the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, followed up with a tweet of his own. “Donald Trump has a copy of the search warrant,” the California congressman wrote. “He’d show us the warrant if he were so wronged. Show it or shut it.”
There are some Republicans pushing the FBI and the Justice Department to also release the warrant, which seems unlikely. Not only are there protocols in place to protect the rights of those facing federal law enforcement scrutiny, but such disclosures could conceivably interfere with an ongoing investigation.
But the FBI, the Justice Department and the judiciary aren’t the only ones with access to the search warrant. Trump and his lawyers have it, too. So they can release it any time they want.
Of course, Trump is under no obligation to release the documents to the press or the public.
But maybe Trump will hear this chatter, accept the challenge, release the warrant, and we’ll all see evidence that paints federal law enforcement in a scandalous new light.
Or maybe Trump and his allies would prefer that the public not see the search warrant, creating uncertainty and allowing Republicans to push conspiracy theories without proof.
Search of Trump abusive? Law enforcement leaves a copy of the search warrant, which itemizes what they are looking for and what laws were violated
If Trump/RNC think this search signed off on by a fed judge is abusive & they have nothing to hide,release the warrant to the public
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) August 9, 2022
Donald Trump has a copy of the search warrant. He’d show us the warrant if he were so wronged. Show it or shut it.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 9, 2022
If Trump has nothing to hide and is an innocent victim, then he should release his copy of the search warrant, which was left at Mar-a-Lago by the FBI.
— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) August 9, 2022
Trump has the search warrant. Trump would release the warrant if he were innocent. But he won’t, because he’s guilty as sin. And he knows it.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) August 9, 2022
Why won’t Donald Trump release his copy of the search warrant?
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) August 9, 2022
By the way, Trump now has the search warrant and the inventory of what was taken in his possession. If this raid was so egregious and unjustified, why not release them?
— Richard Stengel (@stengel) August 9, 2022
If Trump wants a credible chance at winning the Republican presidential nomination he should release the search warrant and show he hasn’t committed serious crimes. Justing kidding they care about nothing.
— Jack Bryan (@jackabryan) August 9, 2022
Hey @DonaldJTrumpJr,
Your daddy has the search warrant. Why doesn’t he release it?— Republicans against Trumpism (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 9, 2022
IF ITS A WITCH HUNT, RELEASE THE PROBABLE CAUSE/SEARCH WARRANT INFORMATION.
If Trump won’t do that, he is 100.00% indisputably full of shit and is in grave legal danger.— Spiro Agnew’s Ghost (@SpiroAgnewGhost) August 9, 2022
Why won’t Trump release the search warrant? Because it makes him look as guilty as he is.
— Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@NotHoodlum) August 9, 2022
Go Mike Begala:
“Everything triggers the Trump base; Sesame Street, Dr Suess”
“Let Trump release the search warrant”— Ed Kwok (@kwok_xian) August 9, 2022
Trump isn’t going to release the legal search warrant because it has some horrific crimes of him selling off our national security and intelligence.
Stealing the documents isn’t the biggest crime. It’s what they did next?
— Johnathan Ford ☮️ (@FordJohnathan5) August 9, 2022
All these Republicans DEMANDING that Garland explain himself (not how investigations work), overlook the fact that Trump has a copy of the search warrant.
He could release it anytime he wants. I wonder why not?— 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🌈 (@rogertansey) August 9, 2022
Trump can’t release the Search Warrant because it’s currently under audit by the IRS. He’ll release it when he releases his health plan and taxes.
— Dunky Shines (@DunkAsASkunk) August 9, 2022
1. The target chooses whether to release a search warrant.
2. Cruz isn’t the arbiter of what the American people deserve. They are.
3. Congress doesn’t run the Executive. Back off.
4. Theft is never “inconsequential”.
5. GOP claims this is political already. Empty threat. pic.twitter.com/S5VFUEFAoI
— 🇺🇦🤝🇺🇸 Monty Boa 🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦 (@MontyBoa99) August 9, 2022
Why aren’t any of the outraged Republicans who are calling for Merrick Garland to explain his actions also calling for Donald Trump to release a copy of the search warrant, which he’s had in his possession since yesterday? 🤔#ShowUsTheWarrant
— Woke Senator (@WokeMitt) August 9, 2022
