>Special Master
Federal judge gives notice of her 'intent' to grant Trump a Special Master to review former president's privilege claims over seized documents
DOJ released heavily redacted affidavit Friday that justified warrant for Mar-a-Lago raid
Biden on Friday mocked Trump camp for claiming classification authority
Affidavit stated 14 out of the 15 boxes retrieved from the Florida home earlier in the year had classified information
In total, Trump had 184 classified documents, 67 confidential and 25 top secret returned to National Archives
FBI feared 'clandestine human sources' information was unprotected
DNI Avril Hainestold lawmakers her office would conduct assessment
Justice Department also to be involved
Redacted materials reveal contours of obstruction probe
Biden is spending the weekend in Wilmington after bombshell release
On Saturday evening Judge Aileen Cannon revealed her intent
She told Justice Department to respond with a 'more detailed' receipt of what agents retrieved from Trump's club
Trump-appointed judge wants a response to Trump's request by Tuesday
August 27, 2022
A federal district judge has shown her 'preliminary intent' to grant former President Donald Trump's request of having a special master go through documents agents seized at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon issued the preliminary order Saturday evening, just hours after the Justice Department released a redacted version of the affidavit that bolstered the search warrant that FBI agents carried out August 8.
That document provided new insight into the trove of classified documents that were stored at the former president's club, including information that could compromise 'clandestine human sources.'
U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon issued a preliminary order revealing her inclination to appoint a special master to go through documents seized from Mar-a-Lago
U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon issued a preliminary order revealing her inclination to appoint a special master to go through documents seized from Mar-a-Lago
Judge Cannon issued her order in response to Trump's blistering lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Florida, arguing that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated.
But she surprised some legal observers by tipping her inclination even before hearing opposing arguments from the government. It also is not clear that DOJ has yet been formally served in the case.
She set a hearing for Sept. 1, but said her order was not a 'final determination.'
She also told DOJ, the defendant in this case, to provide a 'more detailed report' of 'all property seized' pursuant to the search warrant.
According to the redacted affidavit, agents seized not only highly classified materials, but also handwritten documents. Some of the papers were stored with other materials.
Trump's initial suit drew criticism from legal experts online for failing to include exhibits or sworn statements, and for airing Trump's grievances with the Russia probe.
'The Government has long treated President Donald J. Trump Unfairly,' reads one subject heading in the lawsuit.
The Trump-appointed judge, who was confirmed in 2020, last week pushed Trump's lawyers to clarify their basis for seeking a special master, asking them to show the 'precise relief sought.'