News organizations seek access to Mueller materials in Russia investigation

A coalition of news organizations asked a federal court to unseal materials used by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to obtain search warrants in his investigation of President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and others indicted in the probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The news organizations are seeking to compel disclosure of affidavits, records of seizures and the warrants themselves that Mueller filed in bringing indictments against such figures as Manafort and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, among others. They argue that the material, which has been shielded under a court order, could contain newsworthy information about the shape and direction of Mueller’s investigation. It could indicate, for example, details of criminal activity suspected by Mueller and the basis for FBI searches. The Washington Post filed the joint motion with the New York Times, the Associated Press, CNN and Politico.

Information used to obtain criminal warrants is typically released to the public after a short holding period, typically a few weeks. But some of the Mueller documents have remained under seal for several months. Manafort and Gates, for example, were indicted in October.