The special counsel’s investigation into Donald Trump and the aftermath of the 2020 election sought the former president’s Twitter direct messages, of which there were many, federal prosecutors and lawyers for Twitter revealed in newly unsealed transcripts from February court hearings about the search warrant.
The transcripts provide additional hints into what special counsel Jack Smith was looking for before a federal grand jury indicted Trump on four crimes related to his attempts to overturn the election. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Those charging documents cite public tweets – but no private communications. Yet a prosecutor in February explained in a hearing before Judge Beryl Howell of the DC District Court about the warrant for Trump’s @realDonaldTrump account data “that there were communications between the President and senior advisors that were vital to presidential decision-making, that was our reaction.”
A lawyer representing Twitter, now called “X,” similarly confirmed in court that Trump’s account had several private messages between users on the platform. “X” was able to find both the sent direct messages and deleted messages for prosecutors, according to the transcripts.
“We were able to determine that there was some volume in that for this account. There are confidential communications,” a lawyer for Twitter said about @realDonaldTrump’s direct messages.
“DOJ was most interested in communications between government officials and Twitter regarding the subject account,” the counsel to the company also said.
In other parts of the court hearings, prosecutors indicated they were seeking data on potential other accounts the user of @realDonaldTrump had, and links between associated accounts.
They also were looking for any discussions “X” had with officials and aides around…
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