A US judge has ordered that a redacted version of court papers that convinced him to authorize a search of Donald Trump’s estate is released.
The public version of the affidavit, a document containing evidence gathered by prosecutors, could reveal new information about the investigation.
During its ongoing investigation, the Department of Justice opposed the release of an uncensored version.
The FBI search was part of an investigation into possible document mishandling by the Trump regime.
The former US president has denied wrongdoing and claims that the classified files discovered at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in August were already declassified by himself.
On Thursday, US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart ordered that the affidavit be released with redactions by Friday at noon (16:00 GMT).
He stated that prosecutors had shown a “compelling reason” to redact portions of the document that would reveal the identities of witnesses, law enforcement agents, and uncharged parties, as well as “the investigation’s strategy, direction, scope, sources, and methods.”
His decision came shortly after the Justice Department confirmed to the judge that it had submitted a copy of the affidavit with proposed redactions.
Even in its redacted form, the affidavit may reveal why Mr Trump allegedly took classified documents with him during the chaotic final days of his presidency and what he did with them while they were stored in Palm Beach.
Several news organizations have requested that the affidavit be unsealed, citing public interest in the search for a former president’s home.
The Department of Justice, on the other hand, had objected to the move, claiming that its release would cause “irreparable harm” to its ongoing investigation. The necessary redactions, it added, would render the document “meaningless.”
Mr Trump and his lawyers have demanded that the unredacted affidavit be released, describing the Mar-a-Lago search as politically motivated and illegal.
Taylor Budowich, a spokesman for Mr Trump, said efforts to “hide” its contents were “cynical” and could be used to “hide government corruption.”
Mr. Trump’s legal team requested earlier this week that the investigation be halted and that an independent third-party attorney, known as a special master, be appointed to oversee the documents seized by the FBI during the search.
According to the search warrant, FBI agents wanted to see if Mr Trump committed a crime by improperly handling government records when he took them from the White House to Mar-a-Lago as his presidency ended.
When leaving office, US presidents are required to transfer documents and emails to the National Archives.
