DOJ Warned of Violence if Trump Learned of Twitter Search Warrant

Prosecutors for special counsel Jack Smith warned a judge in secret proceedings that if former President Donald Trump learned of the search warrant they obtained for his Twitter account, it could "precipitate violence." They argued that Trump presented a significant risk of tampering with evidence and intimidating witnesses in ongoing investigations into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents. The court filings, unsealed at the request of a media coalition, also revealed that Twitter handed over data from Trump's account, including direct messages and information about the location of certain tweets. Twitter lost its fight to keep the search warrant secret and was held in contempt, resulting in fines. Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges related to his attempts to overturn the election and his handling of classified materials.