Documents seized by the FBI from Mar-a-Lago
Source: Department of Justice
Federal Judge on Monday allowed the appointment of a special master to review the records seized from the former President Donald Trumpthe FBI residence in Florida during a raid last month, a move sought by his lawyers.
Judge Aileen Cannon also temporarily blocked the Department of Justice from reviewing or using the seized material for investigative purposes, until a special master’s document review is completed, or until further warrants are issued. according to the court.
That independent third party will inspect “forfeited property for personal and potentially privileged items and documents at the request of the attorney-client and/or executive privilege.” law,” Cannon wrote in his order in Florida’s Southern District Court.
Cannon said her order will not impede the Office of the Director of State’s ongoing review of classified documents found at Trump’s residence and assessment of any possible damage to US intelligence. National newspaper.
The DOJ is conducting a criminal investigation into the deletion of government records from the White House to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach when he leaves office in January 2021. By law, the files such should have been given to the National Archives and Records Administration by the end of Trump’s term.
The judge, who was appointed by Trump, in her ruling gave a nod to the fact that the August 8 raid at Mar-a-Lago was the first time that law enforcement agencies had searched the residence. of a former president as part of a crime. that person’s survey.
As Trump’s attorneys argued at a court hearing last week, Cannon wrote, “the investigation and disposition of a former president is of sole concern to the public and the country best served by an order
processes that promote concern and awareness of fairness. “
Cannon ordered the DOJ and Trump’s attorneys to exchange and jointly submit a list of proposed special masters candidates Friday. She also asked them to outline what they believe to be the special employer’s duties and limitations, as well as the watchdog’s compensation.
trumpet asked for a special master to be appointed in a few weeks after the raid in which FBI agents found more than 10,000 government documents, more than 100 of which have been classified or highly classified.
FBI agents also found four dozen folders of empty documents marked “classified” during the raid, 43 or found in Trump’s office. The remaining five empty folders with that mark were found in containers in a storage room.
The FBI also found Another 42 empty folders marked “Back to Staff Secretary / Manager [sic] Assistant,” during the raid.
DOJ objected to the appointment of that watchdogargued that Trump had no ownership of the records and that a special review would delay its ongoing criminal investigation.
But Cannon at her behest said she did not believe a review by the special master “under the current circumstances would cause undue delay.”
The DOJ and a Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Cannon’s order.
