On the 11th (local time), Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General, appeared at a press conference. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Seulgina Jo] Amid controversy surrounding the unprecedented search of a former president's residence in the United States, Merrick Garland, the Attorney General and head of the investigation, requested the court to disclose the warrant, stating there is "substantial basis." This move directly counters former President Donald Trump's claims that the investigation is "political." The warrant is expected to specify confidential documents that Trump allegedly removed, making the fallout from its disclosure inevitable.
On the 11th (local time), Garland held a press conference confirming that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a search of former President Trump's residence at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on the 8th. He said, "I personally approved the decision to request the search warrant on this matter," adding, "I do not take such a decision lightly."
It is highly unusual for the Attorney General to publicly comment on an ongoing investigation. Garland refuted the exceptional measure of searching a former president's home by stating there is "substantial basis." He also announced that he requested the Miami federal court to release the contents of the search warrant, citing "significant public interest" in the matter.
The warrant is expected to detail confidential documents presumed to have been removed from the White House by former President Trump. Already facing his greatest political crisis due to various allegations including asset value manipulation of his family business, The Trump Organization, and incitement of the January 6 Capitol riot, Trump is likely to suffer further damage depending on the severity of the warrant's contents.
The Department of Justice's unusual move to request the warrant's disclosure is a response to Trump and his supporters framing the search as a political investigation. It also serves as a warning to Trump to cooperate with the investigation. The Associated Press reported, "The Department of Justice seemed to recognize that its silence after the search created space for fierce attacks from Trump and his followers." Local media also reported that a decision on whether to disclose the warrant could be made as early as the afternoon of the 12th.
Former President Donald Trump's residence at Mar-a-Lago Resort in Florida [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
In particular, Garland stated that he has no further comments on the search at this time but hinted at additional responses, saying, "More information will be provided appropriately and in due course." He added, "I will address the baseless attacks on the professionalism of FBI and Department of Justice agents and prosecutors," emphasizing, "I will not remain silent or passive when their integrity is unfairly attacked." This comes amid escalating aggressive reactions, including potential armed responses, from Trump supporters targeting the DOJ and FBI following the search. FBI Director Christopher Wray also criticized the violent threats from Trump supporters as "deplorable and dangerous" during a press conference after visiting the FBI field office in Nebraska on the same day.
Meanwhile, former President Trump expressed dissatisfaction again in a statement immediately after Garland's press conference, saying, "Despite being cooperative with the Department of Justice, a warrant was issued and a search was conducted." The White House emphasized that it was not notified in advance of Garland's press conference and that the investigation was based on the DOJ's independent judgment.
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