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Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida
Photo: Steve Helber/AP
In early August, the FBI searched Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The US Department of Justice on Friday, by order of a judge, partially released the affidavit that authorized the search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach three weeks ago.
About half of the more than 30-page paper has been blacked out to protect sensitive information.
Among other things, there is information about the initial suspicion of the federal police FBI against Trump.
Due to the high level of public interest, the online database of court documents was completely overwhelmed.
14 of 15 boxes of documents that Trump had previously sent to the National Archives from Mar-a-Lago contained confidential and sometimes top secret documents.
184 documents in the boxes were classified - 67 as "confidential", 92 as "secret" and 25 as "top secret".
The FBI complained that classified documents were mixed with other papers.
The FBI therefore argued that there was reason to believe that other classified documents were located at the property.
Several US media had requested publication
Also in the confiscated boxes were handwritten notes by Trump and claims by his attorneys that he had authority to release documents.
A judge in the state of Florida had ordered the partial publication on Thursday.
The Justice Department created a redacted version to protect sensitive information.
Several media had requested publication.
The federal police FBI searched Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on August 8th.
The background is the Republican's handling of documents from his term as President until January 2021.
Investigators searching the home of a former president is considered unprecedented in US history.
The operation caused a stir.
Trump accused the administration of his Democratic successor Joe Biden of using the FBI for political ends.
For weeks he has fueled speculation that he will run again in the next presidential election in just over two years.
Trump rejects all allegations: He claims that all documents were released, so the secrecy was lifted.
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