JTFMax:

After the house search at ex-President Trump, the pressure on US Attorney General Merrick Garland increased. He has commented on the historically unique procedure - and personally assumed responsibility.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland endorsed the decision to seek a search warrant on former US President Donald Trump's home. Garland said Thursday at a short-notice speech in Washington. "A federal court granted the search warrant following the required determination of reasonable suspicion."

Garland added, “The Ministry does not take such a decision lightly. Wherever possible, less intrusive means are sought as an alternative to a search, and any search is strictly limited.” The FBI searched Trump's Mar-a-Lago, Florida home last Monday.

No details on the search

The process is considered unprecedented in US history. The pressure on Garland had since grown to take a stand. Trump was not at his home during the search. He and other Republicans have criticized the investigation and accused Democratic US President Joe Biden of politicizing the FBI.

Garland said Thursday that he could not comment on the search details. However, given the public interest and Trump's confirmation of the incident, his department has petitioned a federal court to release the search warrant and receipt for any items seized.

Garland emphasized, "All Americans have the right to the equitable application of the law, due process, and the presumption of innocence."

The background to the search was Trump's handling of documents from his tenure. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the National Archives, responsible for storing presidential correspondence, suspected several boxes of confidential material were in Mar-a-Lago. Trump finally handed over several documents to the agency in January.

After that, according to US media reports, there was further exchange between investigators and Trump's lawyers. Officials suspected that Trump or his team were continuing to withhold essential documents, the Washington Post wrote, citing anonymous sources. The FBI is said to have taken twelve boxes.

In his speech, Garland also warns against questioning the professionalism of his employees. "I would like to address the recent unfounded attacks on the professionalism of FBI and Justice Department agents and prosecutors: I will not stand by and see their integrity unjustly challenged," the Attorney General said.