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First fox: A federal judge on Saturday was asked by former President Trump and his legal team to review records seized by the FBI during an unprecedented raid on his home in Mar-a-Lago earlier this month. , announced her “provisional intention to appoint a special master”., citing “exceptional circumstances”.
Trump and his legal team filed a motion for independent review Monday night Records seized by the FBI The decision to raid his private residence in the months before the 2022 midterm elections “contained political calculations aimed at undermining President Trump, a major voice in the Republican Party.” said.
Judge Eileen M. Cannon, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, said Saturday afternoon that the decision was made after reviewing Trump’s filing and “the exceptional circumstances presented.”
“Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the inherent powers of the Court, and without prejudice to any objection of the parties, the Court hereby gives notice of its tentative intention to appoint a special Master in this matter. I will,” Cannon wrote in Saturday’s filing.
FBI said it had “probable cause” to believe additional classified documents remained in MAR-A-LAGO, affidavit says
A hearing is scheduled for September 1 at 1:00 pm in West Palm Beach, Florida. Cannon also ordered the Justice Department to submit a response by Aug. 30 and provide “sealed” and “further detailed property receipts.” All property seized pursuant to a search warrant executed on August 8, 2022. “
Current property receipts show that FBI agents removed approximately 20 boxes of items from the facility. This includes a set of documents marked “Miscellaneous Confidential/TS/SCI Documents” that refer to top secret/classified information.
Records subject to that government classification level may contain human intelligence or information that, if disclosed, could endanger the U.S.’s relations with other nations or the lives of its intelligence operatives abroad. may be exposed to However, the classification also includes national security information related to the day-to-day business of the President of the United States.
Property receipts also show that FBI agents have collected four sets of top-secret documents, three sets of classified documents, and three sets of classified documents, but the documents do not reveal details of these records. .
DOJ ‘Contamination Team’ Investigates Trump Mar-a-Lago Documents
The government has launched an investigation in response to what it believes to be a 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.
Allegations of “collection, transmission or loss of defense information” fall under espionage law.
Trump and his team dispute the classification, saying they believe the information and records have been declassified.
Cannon also ordered the Department of Justice to submit a sealed “detailed notice of the circumstances” of the review of the seized property.
Cannon also said the Department of Justice should include in the submission “each specific position regarding the duties and responsibilities of future special masters, along with other considerations related to the appointment of special masters in this case.” Stated.
Special Master Trump’s motion filed Monday night called on the Justice Department to suspend ongoing reviews of materials seized by the FBI during the investigation until an independent review is conducted. .
at this point, Department of Justice A “contamination” or “filter” team is reviewing documents seized by the FBI during an investigation.
A senior law enforcement official familiar with the process told Fox News that the review began shortly after the search warrant was executed on August 8.
The official told Fox News that it is standard procedure for the Department of Justice to use “pollution” or “filter” teams to examine documents obtained during searches.
Fox News first reported earlier this month that FBI agents seized a box containing records subject to attorney and client privilege, and in some cases executive privilege, during a house raid.
Trump submits motion for independent review of documents seized during FBI raid in MAR-A-LAGO
A source familiar with the investigation told Fox News on Saturday that the former president’s team had all boxes labeled A-14, A-26, A-43, A-13, A-33, and a series of documents. The page on the FBI’s property receipt, which he said he was eventually told was seen โ contained information covered by Attorney-Client Privileges.
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.
Saturday’s ruling came after another federal judge, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, released a redacted version of the affidavit used to justify the FBI’s search.
In a heavily redacted affidavit, the FBI said that additional records containing classified information, including national defense information, were found on the Mar-a-Lago premises, beyond what he had previously filed. There are good reasons to believe,” he said. To the National Archives and Records Administration.
Reinhardt signed the FBI’s warrant for the Aug. 5 Mar-a-Lago raid, authorizing the FBI to conduct an investigation.