Congress wants answers about FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search warrant

Washington lawmakers still have questions about the FBI’s execution of a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s home. Congressional Republicans are calling on the Justice Department to release the affidavit used to get the Mar-a-Lago search warrant approved. Both parties are asking for a congressional briefing from the intelligence community.

The warrant and receipt list were unsealed Friday, revealing FBI agents took items marked top secret during their raid on Trump’s residence.

Republicans still have questions as to whether the search and seizure was fully justified.

“For the Justice Department, now that they’ve done this, that they show that this was not just a fishing expedition. That they had due cause to go in and to do this, that they did exhaust all other means. And if they can’t do that, then we’ve got a serious problem on our hands,” Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said.

“We need to have [FBI Director Christopher] Wray and [Attorney General Merrick] Garland come in and tell us exactly what they know. Why they did it, what was the evidence they gave to the judge,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said. 

Democrats said the information not being in a properly secured location could be a national security risk.

“So the fact that they were in this unsecure place that is guarded with nothing more than a padlock or whatever security they had at a hotel is deeply alarming,” Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would not talk about potential congressional investigations and said they need to see what course the Justice Department takes.

“I think what is important now is to know the seriousness of what these documents are about, alleged to be about. We don’t know,” Speaker Pelosi said.

The national security concerns come as the FBI and DHS released a joint memo stating there is an increasing number of online threats against federal law enforcement and government officials. Threats include placing a dirty bomb in front of FBI headquarters and calls for civil war and armed rebellion.

The posts have been shared online through social media and other web forums. According to NBC, the memo also warned the FBI has seen posts of personal identifying information like addresses and names of family members.

The memo also drew attention to the attempt to infiltrate the FBI’s Cincinnati field office by a Trump supporter who was frustrated by the warrant. The suspect, who was shot and killed after a gun battle with police, made posts online that said FBI agents should be shot on sight and urged people to be “ready for combat.” 

The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.