First Thing: US justice department asks not to disclose affidavit behind search of Trump’s resort

Unsealing the document could reveal the scope of the inquiry against former president. Plus, weeks of heat above 100F will be the norm in much of US

Good morning.

The US Department of Justice has asked a judge not to release the affidavit that gave the FBI probable cause to search Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, worsening distrust among top Trump aides casting about for any insight into the intensifying criminal investigation surrounding the former president.

What did the DoJ say? The affidavit would serve as a roadmap to the government's ongoing investigation, providing specific details about its direction and likely course," the department said, adding that it did not oppose unsealing a cover page and a sealing order that would not harm the criminal investigation.

What has Trump been saying? He is demanding the return of some of the documents that were seized - apparently under the impression that posts on his Truth Social platform carry legal weight.

The three men's travails spell out a problem in selecting outsider, celebrity candidates. Each brings name recognition, but in some cases have been unexposed to the media's glare.