Among the Robert Mueller investigation materials sought by the news outlets are affidavits, the warrants themselves, and the seizures made during their execution. | Getty News outlets request access to sealed Mueller docs from Russia probe

A group of news outlets requested on Tuesday that documents used by special counsel Robert Mueller to obtain warrants in his investigation into Russian election meddling be unsealed by a federal court.

The media organizations — which include POLITICO, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Associated Press and CNN — are specifically seeking materials pertaining to the search warrants Mueller’s team used on Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, as well as others indicted in the federal probe.


The coalition of news outlets argued the documents could shed light on newsworthy information about the state of Mueller’s investigation, including, potentially, unearthing details about the extent to which his team of federal prosecutors suspected criminal activity in obtaining the search warrants.

Among the materials sought by the news outlets are affidavits, the warrants themselves, and the seizures made during their execution.

The request seeks access to information on Manafort, indicted in October on charges of money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent, and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty in December to lying to the FBI, among others.

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It also covers materials used to obtain a warrant in the investigation of former Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, Manafort’s associate, Rick Gates, and the 13 Russian nationals who were indicted on charges relating to efforts to meddle in the 2016 elections.

The motion was jointly filed by the five news organizations.

While materials used to obtain warrants are typically publicly disclosed after a short period of time, some of the documents used by Mueller remain sealed, despite several months elapsing since they were used.

Trump and top White House officials have repeatedly denied allegations that campaign aides colluded with Russian officials to interfere in the presidential election. The president has frequently referred to Mueller’s probe as a “witch hunt.”