THIS JUST IN! 🗞

Note that the magistrate judge has read the full affidavit and used to be an AUSA so is well equipped to evaluate DoJ’s claim it needs to be sealed for OpSec. Still would be a very rare unsealing while an investigation is going on. https://t.co/q4qV1I3ZRu

— 18Hat793 (@Popehat) August 18, 2022

First, I put this in this category:

HAHAHA!! last week I was in court and the judge started heaping compliments on opposing counsel, and my client started crying, thinking she was going to lose. I squeezed her hand under the table, and whispered to her "don't worry, this is actually a really good sign." We won.

— Robin McStay, Esquirrel (@robinmcstay) August 16, 2022

Not that the judge won't release the affidavit after all, but the rule always applies: the left hand giveth, and the right hand taketh away. And what does Trump win? (he who appeared tangentially through Peter Thiel pro se?)*

Astute point made by @AWeissmann_ on @KatyTurNBC that even a redacted affidavit could reveal repeated exchanges bw DOJ and Trump lawyers trying to negotiate return of docs…which would demonstrate exhaustion of good faith, less intrusive measures. Would be pretty bad for Trump

— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) August 18, 2022

It's not like the magistrate wants to release the entire affidavit anyway:

Next steps, per @jdawsey1: NEXT THURSDAY the government has to file a redacted affidavit. 12:00 noon ET. "The government shall file under seal ex parte its redactions and any briefing it would like to include." Then, Reinhart will make a decision.

— Jacqueline Alemany (@JaxAlemany) August 18, 2022

But it could show Trump wasn't that cooperative, just the parts DOJ allows.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.  Trump is still playing this for headlines.  DOJ and the courts don't give a wet snap about headlines.

So absurd: Trump is threatening to release footage of the Mar-a-Lago search, to martyr himself. But some allies say it's a bad idea, because...it will show he's guilty of hoarding lots of documents! He's unable to imagine that he can't spin his guilt away.https://t.co/HZNE8wOSen

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) August 18, 2022

*No, I'm not kidding:

Pro se intervenors: pic.twitter.com/OKbWg7AwKd

— Former Unfavorable Attendee Mix Participant (@egregiousknives) August 18, 2022