COURTS & LEGAL

Special counsel obtained search warrant for Donald Trump’s Twitter account

Aug 9, 2023, 11:47 AM

(@realDonaldTrump/Twitter)...

(@realDonaldTrump/Twitter)

(@realDonaldTrump/Twitter)

(AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith’s team obtained a search warrant in January for records related to former President Donald Trump’s Twitter account, and a judge levied a $350,000 fine on the company for a delay in complying, according to court documents released Wednesday.

The details were included in a decision from the federal appeals court in Washington rejecting Twitter’s claim that it should not have been held in contempt or sanctioned.

X, the San Francisco-based platform formerly known as Twitter, sent an automated reply to a request for comment, saying it would respond soon.

Musk restores Trump’s Twitter account after online poll

The filing says prosecutors got the search warrant directing Twitter to produce information on Trump’s account after a court “found probable cause to search the Twitter account for evidence of criminal offenses.” The government also obtained a nondisclosure agreement prohibiting Twitter from disclosing the search warrant, the filing says.

The court found that disclosing the warrant could risk that Trump would “would seriously jeopardize the ongoing investigation” by giving him “an opportunity to destroy evidence, change patterns of behavior,” the filing says.

Twitter objected to the nondisclosure agreement, saying four days after the compliance deadline that it would not produce any of the account information, according to the ruling. The judges write that Twitter “did not question the validity of the search warrant” but argued that the nondisclosure agreement was a violation of the First Amendment and wanted the court to assess the legality of the agreement before it handed any information over.

Trump indictment emerges as central GOP concern at Utah special election debate

Smith has charged Trump, in an indictment unsealed last week, with conspiring to subvert the will of voters and cling to power after he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump, a Republican, has pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of Congress’ certification of Biden’s win.

Trump says he is innocent and has portrayed the investigation as political motivated. His legal team has indicated it will argue that Trump was relying on the advice of lawyers around him in 2020 and had the right to challenge an election he believed was rigged.

Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

A spokesman for the special counsel’s office declined to comment on the warrant or what it sought.

KSL 5 TV Live

Courts & Legal

Mount Olympus trailhead...

Larry D. Curtis

Teen charged as adult in Mount Olympus trailhead murder

A 16-year-old boy is the latest person to be charged with the murder of Naod Welday, 18, at the Mount Olympus trailhead parking lot in August.

16 hours ago

After two people were killed Saturday in a Ogden Canyon crash, a petition has been started to ask o...

Michael Houck

Man lied to officers about securing a bulldozer that killed a CEO in Ogden Canyon, police say

A man is being accused of lying to police about safely securing a bulldozer on his flatbed, which resulted in the death of a Utah CEO in the summer, police say.

16 hours ago

Asylum seekers arrive at the Roosevelt Hotel on Friday, May 19, 2023, in New York....

Cedar Attansio, Associated Press

Judge says New York can’t use ‘antiquated, unconstitutional’ law to block migrant buses from Texas

A judge has ruled that New York City can’t use a two-century-old “anti-pauper” law to block the state of Texas from offering migrants free bus rides to the city.

3 days ago

Salt Lake County District Attorney displays body camera video Friday from officers who shot a man a...

Pat Reavy, KSL.com

Bluffdale officers justified in shooting armed man, report concludes

Two police officers were legally justified in shooting an armed man, the district attorney announced Friday. An autopsy determined the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot.

4 days ago

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, joined by Melania Trump, left, and B...

Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press

Judge cancels court deadlines in Trump’s 2020 election case after his presidential win

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case has canceled any remaining court deadlines after prosecutors said they need time to assess “the appropriate course going forward.”

4 days ago

FILE -- A man is in custody after West Valley City Police found a large sum of drug paraphernalia i...

Alton Barnhart

UPDATE: 11-year-old runaway found safe, West Valley City police say

An 11-year-old who ran away from his home is back home, police say.

5 days ago

Sponsored Articles

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

family having fun at home...

Lighting Design

Discover the impact of lighting on your mood

From color temperature to lighting saturation, we tackle how different lighting design setups can impact your day-to-day mood.

Laptops in a modern technology store. Department of computers in the electronics store. Choosing a ...

PC Laptops

How to choose the best laptop for college students

Finding the right laptop for college students can be hard, but with this guide we break down what to look for so you can find the best one.

young male technician is repairing a printer at office...

Les Olson

Unraveling the dilemma between leasing and buying office technology

Carefully weigh these pros and cons to make an informed decision that best suits your business growth and day-to-day operation. 

A kitchen in a modern farmhouse....

Lighting Design

A room-by-room lighting guide for your home

Bookmark this room-by-room lighting guide whenever you decide to upgrade your lighting or style a new home.

Photo courtesy of Artists of Ballet West...

Ballet West

The rising demand for ballet tickets: why they’re harder to get

Ballet West’s box office is experiencing demand they’ve never seen before, leaving many interested patrons unable to secure tickets they want.

Special counsel obtained search warrant for Donald Trump’s Twitter account