newYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A federal judge Monday ordered the appointment of an independent special master to investigate records seized by the FBI during a raid on former President Trump, prompting the Justice Department to suspend its own review of the materials for investigative purposes. I ordered you.
Judge Eileen M. Cannon, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, holds a special master’s degree to “examine seized property, administer claims of privilege, make recommendations thereon, and evaluate claims for the return of property.” ordered to appoint
Trump FBI Raid: DOJ Releases Details of Documents Obtained from MAR-A-LAGO
“The Court hereby authorizes the appointment of a special master to review personal items and documents of seized property and potentially privileged materials subject to claims of attorney client and/or executive privilege. I will,” said the order.
Fox News first reported last month that FBI agents seized a box containing records subject to attorney and client privilege and, in some cases, executive privilege during an investigation.
Attorney-client privilege refers to the legal privilege that keeps communications between attorney and client confidential. At this time, it is unclear whether the records include correspondence between the former president and his personal attorney, a White House attorney during the Trump administration, or a combination thereof.
Department of Justice A ‘pollution’ or ‘filter’ team was reviewing these documents, but Cannon’s order on Monday temporarily halted that review.
“Furthermore, in natural connection with its appointment, and consistent with the value and order of special master proceedings, the Court will also reserve the right for investigative purposes pending the completion of a special master examination or further court order. Temporarily ban the government from reviewing and using the seized materials…”
Trump FBI raid: Judge delays ‘special master’ decision after critical hearing
However, this order does not preclude classification review and/or information evaluation by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (“ODNI”) as described in the Government’s Notice of Receipt of Interim Order.
Trump’s legal team last month called on Cannon to appoint a special master following an unprecedented raid on his property, and the Justice Department’s “privileged review team” said it would be a no-brainer amid such high-profile raids. It argued that it should not be the final arbiter of whether its actions were appropriate.The scope of the case and review team was too narrow.
“We need to take a deep breath,” Trump’s attorney Christopher Kise told the hearing Thursday.
Meanwhile, at a hearing last week, federal prosecutors argued that appointing a special agent would delay the investigation, and that Trump was ineligible to support his demands and had no right to possess classified documents. .
“Because he’s no longer president, and he’s not…he illegally owned them,” Justice Department attorney Jay Bratt said of the documents the FBI took from Trump’s home.
A more detailed list of documents taken from Trump’s home reveals that among the items the FBI seized were dozens of highly classified documents and even an empty folder marked confidential. made it
Judge announces ‘preliminary intent to appoint a special master’ to review Trump records seized by FBI
“Among those records were some of the most classified records in the United States. There was no place for that property. [Mar-a-Lago] It was approved for those records,” DOJ prosecutor Julie Edelstein said Thursday.
Cannon’s ruling came after she declined to rule on a request from the bench at Thursday’s hearing on Trump’s motion.
However, Cannon has indicated that she is leaning towards appointing a special master.
Last week, Cannon announced in an order her “provisional intention” to grant Trump’s demands.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“What’s the harm in appointing a special master?” she said. “What is your expression of harm, other than the general concern of delaying criminal investigations?”
The government raided Trump’s home first. Violation of federal law: 18 USC 793 — Collection, Transmission, or Loss of Defense Information. 18 USC 2071 — Concealment, Removal or Mutilation; and 18 USC 1519 — Destruction, Alteration or Alteration of Records in Federal Investigations.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said he personally authorized a search of Trump’s home.
Fox News’ Jake Gibson contributed to this report.