T. A. Gardner
Serial Thread Killer
There are four possible outcomes here when the public sees the affidavit:
1. It's so heavily redacted that it fuels conspiracy theories on both sides. That's a lose for the DoJ.
2. It clearly shows the FBI and DoJ were justified in their wanting a warrant. That's a win for the DoJ.
3. It clearly shows the FBI and DoJ screwed the pooch and the warrant was unjustified. That's a lose for the DoJ.
4. It is so ambiguous and vague that both sides claim respectively outcomes 2 and 3 meaning we're right back to square 1. The FBI and DoJ break even or lose.
So, the odds are against the DoJ coming out of this favorably. They may, but they more likely will lose credibility. That's why they wanted to keep it sealed, because their people came to the same conclusions I've given here.
1. It's so heavily redacted that it fuels conspiracy theories on both sides. That's a lose for the DoJ.
2. It clearly shows the FBI and DoJ were justified in their wanting a warrant. That's a win for the DoJ.
3. It clearly shows the FBI and DoJ screwed the pooch and the warrant was unjustified. That's a lose for the DoJ.
4. It is so ambiguous and vague that both sides claim respectively outcomes 2 and 3 meaning we're right back to square 1. The FBI and DoJ break even or lose.
So, the odds are against the DoJ coming out of this favorably. They may, but they more likely will lose credibility. That's why they wanted to keep it sealed, because their people came to the same conclusions I've given here.