I doesn’t make sense. Why? At my local county courthouse I make copies of original docs at the courthouse, that day. If the document can’t be copied I photograph it. Never heard such a run-around chinese fire drill as this, except for that bogus African radio tape.
It’s possible the PI didn’t want to have such a potentially incendiary document on his person. Or maybe he did the copy/photographs and isn’t letting on. I have no idea, but there are a million possibilities.
Just be patient ! Sheesh !