direction and scope of the investigation, and investigative steps and witnesses. chris, this tells me that this probable cause was based on a number of factors, not just won the surge of they have a lot of different pieces of information that would be expected if they were asking the judge to approve a search in this case. the second compelling reason is that they say revealing these witnesses or sources could put them in danger and there s a footnote that actually sites to the attack on the fbi cincinnati s office, so this is a way in which trump and his supporters rhetoric is actually working against them in this legal argument. so finally, as you mentioned, they say that this implicates highly classified aid information, so there s a national security interest here, and i think this is what definitely tips the balance in the government s favor, because there s a lot of deference given when the government is trying to protect national
direction and scope of the investigation, and investigative steps and witnesses. chris, this tells me that this probable cause was based on a number of factors, not just won the surge of they have a lot of different pieces of information that would be expected if they were asking the judge to approve a search in this case. the second compelling reason is that they say revealing these witnesses or sources could put them in danger and there s a footnote that actually sites to the attack on the fbi cincinnati s office, so this is a way in which trump and his supporters rhetoric is actually working against them in this legal argument. so finally, as you mentioned, they say that this implicates highly classified aid information, so there s a national security interest here, and i think this is what definitely tips the balance in the government s favor, because there s a lot of deference given when the government is trying to protect national security, and the compromising
don t want the release of what backs up it and hints to the seriousness of the information. and those words that it implicates highly classified material, that this implicates highly classified material that really is a confirmation from the justice department that we haven t heard before about the seriousness here. remember, this is an affidavit that is a narrative that explains everything that the justice department believes is relevant they ve done so far in their investigation. so they can go to the judge to say, we have probable cause to go into mar-a-lago and seize potential evidence of three different crimes. the three crimes they outlined the espionage act, the mishandling of national defense information, obstruction of justice and also the criminaling mishandling of federal records. so, those are the things that they believed they would find evidence for, that would be explained extensively in this affidavit. and then, also in this, they are making an argument about why they c
proceeds, wolf. sara murray, thank you very much. let s get to more on all of this. joining us now, chief political correspondent dana bash and phil mudd and state attorney for palm beach county down in florida, dave ehrenberg. do you agree with the justice department that releasing the affidavit, which they reiterate implicates and i m quoting now, highly classified materials could undermine their investigation if they were to release this affidavit? i do. if you look at what the government is saying about this, there is two things. there is witnesses, also evidently a confidential human in informant. if you get that information and even if it is redacting, you tell me if you re at the inner circle at mar-a-lago, what is the first thing your going to do is say who said what and soon as you find a witness that person is going to be ostracized. that goes a step forward for the informant who was key to telling the fbi that there are documents
things are going to happen if the political climate does not change. the statement coming in his first interview since the raid on his florida compound last week. the former president telling fox news digital he will do whatever can he to help. also tonight the justice department wants to prevent the unsealing of the affidavit used to justify the search warrant request. it says the fact that this investigation, quote, implicates highly classified materials further underscores the need to protect the integrity of the investigation. and exacerbates the potential for harm. if information is disclosed to the public prematurely or improperly. there is also a reference in the doj filing to federal rule 6 e. that signifies a grand jury. experts look at this say it may be a part of a concern trying to protect the identity of a witness or witnesses who are assisting in this. and perhaps other investigations. all of this comes as congressional republicans are pressing hard for additional