<body><div><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" scrolling="no" src="https://uw-media.usatoday.com/embed/video/8013303001?placement=newsbreak" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><h2 class="presto-h2"> The claim:&nbsp;Jeffrey Epstein’s former lawyer was the judge who signed off on the Mar-a-Lago search warrant </h2><p> As part of a federal investigation into&nbsp;whether former President Donald Trump illegally <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/08/trump-fbi-maralago-raid/10272048002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> removed classified documents from the White House </a> ,&nbsp;U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2022/08/09/fbi-agents-conducted-search-warrant-mar-lago-monday/10277617002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Reinhart signed a&nbsp;warrant </a> in early August allowing <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/08/trump-fbi-raid-summary/10272448002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> FBI agents to search Trump's Mar-a-Lago home </a> . </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> In the days and weeks after the search, many people used social media platforms to share information&nbsp;–&nbsp;and&nbsp;misinformation –&nbsp;about the individuals involved. </p><p> A <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bigbadunclesam/photos/a.873009433197958/1441435089688720/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Sept. 17 Facebook post </a> , shared more than 700 times in 10&nbsp;days, claimed that Reinhart previously represented Jeffery Epstein, the disgraced financier <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/07/09/how-jeffrey-epstein-allegedly-chose-his-sex-trafficking-victims/1683420001/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> accused of sex trafficking </a> . </p><p> "If you think it's a coincidence that Jeffrey Epstein's lawyer became a federal judge and that very same judge, of thousands of judges, was the person to sign off on the Mar-a-Lago search warrant you haven't been paying attention," the post reads. </p><p> While Reinhart was the judge who signed off on the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, he was not a former Epstein lawyer. He did, however, represent some Epstein associates, <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/article232595847.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> according to the Miami Herald </a> . </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p><strong> Follow us on Facebook! </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/usatodayfactcheck" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks </a></p><p> USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the&nbsp;claim for comment. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2PWdwV_0iFw8Ozx00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2PWdwV_0iFw8Ozx00" width="3920" height="2568" ><figcaption>Documents related to the search warrant for former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., are photographed Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart agreed to make public documents, including the warrant's cover sheet, the Justice Department's motion to seal the documents and the judge's order requiring them to be sealed. Jon Elswick, AP </figcaption></figure><h2 class="presto-h2"> Reinhart did not represent Epstein </h2><p> In 2019, Reinhart <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/article232595847.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> told the Miami Herald </a> he represented some employees of Epstein, during his tenure as a defense attorney, but never Epstein himself. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> In early 2008,&nbsp;Reinhart left his position as a federal prosecutor and began working in the private sector <a href="https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/content/judge-bruce-e-reinhart" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> specializing in white-collar criminal&nbsp;defense </a> .&nbsp;It was at that time that he <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/09/judge-mar-a-lago-epstein-00050739" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> represented some Epstein employees </a> , including&nbsp;pilots for Epstein, his scheduler and a woman described as Epstein's sex slave by some victims, Politico reported. </p><p><strong> Fact check: </strong><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/12/fact-check-altered-image-bruce-reinhart-ghislaine-maxwell-circulates/10307916002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Altered image of Bruce Reinhart, Ghislaine Maxwell circulates after FBI search of Mar-A-Lago </a></p><p> Reinhart left&nbsp;private practice in 2018. Epstein <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/10/jeffrey-epstein-found-dead-jail-cell-apparent-suicide-media-reports/1975052001/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> died by suicide in 2019 </a> while he was awaiting trial for sex trafficking. </p><h2 class="presto-h2"> Case assigned randomly to Reinhart </h2><p> Reinhart was <a href="https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/content/judge-bruce-e-reinhart" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> sworn in as a federal magistrate judge </a> for the Southern District of Florida in 2018. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> He was appointed to the court by <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/12/fact-check-false-claim-magistrate-who-approved-trump-warrant/10290114002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> judges on the federal district court </a> , after a selection panel of lawyers and community members narrowed the field to five finalists, <a href="https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/sites/flsd/files/news/18-03-14%20Press%20Release%20-%20Selection%20of%20Bruce%20E%20Reinhart%20as%20United%20States%20Magistrate%20Judge%20-%20FINAL%20-%2003-14-18.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> according to&nbsp;a press release from the district court </a> . </p><p> Magistrate judges handle an array of judicial tasks, including issuing warrants, conducting preliminary proceedings and hearing some low-level cases,&nbsp;according to <a href="https://www.uscourts.gov/judges-judgeships/about-federal-judges" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> the United States Courts website </a> . </p><p><strong> Fact </strong><b> check: </b> Bruce <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/12/fact-check-false-claim-magistrate-who-approved-trump-warrant/10290114002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Reinhart, who approved FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, was not appointed by Trump </a></p><p> The judges <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bruce-reinhart-florida-magistrate-judge-donald-trump-search/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> are assigned those cases at random </a> ;&nbsp;any one of the district's three magistrate judges could have approved and signed the search warrant for Mar-a-Lago, CBS News reported. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> USA TODAY has previously debunked claims about how Reinhart <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/12/fact-check-false-claim-magistrate-who-approved-trump-warrant/10290114002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> was appointed </a> and <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/12/fact-check-altered-image-bruce-reinhart-ghislaine-maxwell-circulates/10307916002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> an altered image&nbsp;of the judge </a> that spread online after he signed the Mar-a-Lago warrant. </p><h2 class="presto-h2"> Our rating: False </h2><p> Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that&nbsp;Epstein’s former lawyer was the judge who signed off on the Mar-a-Lago search warrant. Reinhart told the Miami Herald he represented Epstein employees, not Epstein. </p><h2 class="presto-h2"> Our fact-check sources: </h2><ul><li> USA TODAY, Aug. 8, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/08/trump-fbi-maralago-raid/10272048002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Trump Mar-a-Lago home in Florida searched by FBI in probe into handling of classified documents </a></li><li> USA TODAY, Aug. 8, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/08/trump-fbi-raid-summary/10272448002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> What's happening at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home? Was the FBI there? Answers to your questions </a></li><li> Palm Beach Post, Aug. 9, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2022/08/09/fbi-agents-conducted-search-warrant-mar-lago-monday/10277617002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Donald Trump knows what FBI agents took from Mar-a-Lago and why they took it, experts say </a></li><li> Miami Herald, July 13, 2019, <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/article232595847.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Deflecting blame, Acosta pointed finger at others. Why they may have some explaining to do </a></li><li> U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accessed Sept. 26, <a href="https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/content/judge-bruce-e-reinhart" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Judge Bruce E. Reinhart </a></li><li> USA TODAY, Aug. 10, 2019, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/10/jeffrey-epstein-found-dead-jail-cell-apparent-suicide-media-reports/1975052001/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, awaiting sex trafficking charges, dead of apparent suicide </a></li><li> USA TODAY, Aug. 12, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/12/fact-check-false-claim-magistrate-who-approved-trump-warrant/10290114002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Fact check: Bruce Reinhart, who approved FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, was not appointed by Trump </a></li><li> U.S. Courts, accessed Sept. 27, <a href="https://www.uscourts.gov/judges-judgeships/about-federal-judges" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> About Federal Judges </a></li><li> Politico, Aug. 9, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/09/judge-mar-a-lago-epstein-00050739" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Judge who approved FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search represented clients linked to Jeffrey Epstein </a></li><li> CBS News, Aug. 18, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bruce-reinhart-florida-magistrate-judge-donald-trump-search/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Bruce Reinhart unsealed: The magistrate judge at the center of the Justice Dept's inquiry into Trump's handling of classified records </a></li><li> USA TODAY, Aug. 12, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/12/fact-check-altered-image-bruce-reinhart-ghislaine-maxwell-circulates/10307916002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Fact check: Altered image of Bruce Reinhart, Ghislaine Maxwell circulates after FBI search of Mar-A-Lago </a></li><li> U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, March 14, 2018, <a href="https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/sites/flsd/files/news/18-03-14%20Press%20Release%20-%20Selection%20of%20Bruce%20E%20Reinhart%20as%20United%20States%20Magistrate%20Judge%20-%20FINAL%20-%2003-14-18.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Press release </a></li></ul><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p><em> Contributing: Sudiksha Kochi </em></p><p><em> Thank you for supporting our journalism.&nbsp;You can <a href="https://cm.usatoday.com/specialoffer?_ga=2.159964861.1095412655.1597937597-1319250638.1597937595" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. </a></em></p><p><em> Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. </em></p><p><em> This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/09/29/fact-check-no-bruce-reinhart-not-jeffrey-epsteins-lawyer/8119682001/" rel="nofollow"> Fact check: Magistrate judge who signed off on Mar-a-Lago search represented Epstein associates </a></em></p></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

Magistrate judge Reinhart signed off on the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. He also represented some associates of Jeffrey Epstein but not Epstein himself.