For the uninitiated: the warrant affidavit is what’s really important here for the public to see. Everything else is kabuki theater. So of course Merrick wants it sealed up:

NEW: The DOJ files a motion opposing the release of the affidavit underlying the FBI's search warrant for former Pres. Trump's Mar-a-Lago home:

"Disclosure at this juncture … would cause significant and irreparable damage to this ongoing criminal investigation." pic.twitter.com/ToV2WpHkFz

— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) August 15, 2022

More from Zerohedge:

The Department of Justice has opposed the release of the underlying FBI affidavit used to justify last week’s raid on Mar-a-Lago because they claim “it would serve as a roadmap to the government’s ongoing investigation, providing specific details about its direction and likely course, in a manner that is highly likely to compromise future investigative steps,” according to Politico‘s Kyle Cheney.

“The fact that this investigation implicates highly classified materials further underscores the need to protect the integrity of the investigation,” the DOJ said in a Monday court filing.

…

What’s more, the DOJ says the release of the FBI affidavit would “chill future cooperation” by witnesses.