Posted on 09/11/2022 8:43:28 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The raid on former President Trump’s home in Florida was unprecedented and Trump has made his objections known in legal and social statements, proclaiming his distrust of those involved.
Trump’s request for a special master to independently review the documents seized is an effort on his part to ensure more integrity in the review process.
The DOJ had opposed that request, saying a team of agency officials had already completed a privilege review of the documents, and that a special master could harm the government’s national security interests.
This week U.S. District Judge from the Southern District of Florida Judge Aileen M. Cannon on Monday ordered that a special master be appointed, approving Trump’s request for a special master to sift through the seized materials to identify personal items and records that are protected by the attorney-client privilege or executive privilege.
She ordered that an independent third-party be appointed to “review the seized property, manage assertions of privilege and make recommendations thereon, and evaluate claims for return of property.”
“The Court hereby authorizes the appointment of a special master to review the seized property for personal items and documents and potentially privileged material subject to claims of attorney- client and/or executive privilege,” the order states.
“Furthermore, in natural conjunction with that appointment, and consistent with the value and sequence of special master procedures, the Court also temporarily enjoins the Government from reviewing and using the seized materials for investigative purposes pending completion of the special master’s review or further Court order,” it adds.
The order, though, “shall not impede the classification review and/or intelligence assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (“ODNI”) as described in the Government’s Notice of Receipt of Preliminary Order.”
Three days later, the Department of Justice has decided to appeal the decision of Judge Cannon, also asking that asked Judge Cannon pause her order that blocked the Department of Justice from continuing to review the documents, NBC News reported.
In another court filing Thursday, the DOJ asked Cannon to make public a notice on the status of that team’s filter review process, which had been filed under seal on Aug. 30.
Meanwhile, both parties have submitted their candidates for special master:
The Honorable Barbara S. Jones (ret.) – retired judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, partner in Bracewell LLP, and special master in In re: in the Matter of Search Warrants Executed on April 28, 2021 and In the Matter of Search Warrants Executed on April 9, 2018.
The Honorable Thomas B. Griffith (ret.) – retired Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, special counsel in Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, and Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School.
Jones has contributed over $5,000 to candidates as well as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) since 2019, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings. She most recently gave $2,900 to former New York congressional candidate Liz Holtzman, filings show.
BREAKING: Biden Administration proposed DNC donor to serve as Special Master for Trump. pic.twitter.com/zGtNALK9iI
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) September 10, 2022
The DOJ also proposed the court possibly appoint Thomas B. Griffith special master. Griffith, a former judge appointed by President George W. Bush, was tapped by Biden in 2021 to be on his newly made U.S. Supreme Court Presidential Commission — which makes proposals to the court on how it should operate.
The Honorable Raymond J. Dearie (ret.) – former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, served on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, formerly the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Paul Huck, Jr.—founder, The Huck Law Firm, former Jones Day partner, former General Counsel to the Governor, former Deputy Attorney General for the State of Florida.
So the government, (the FBI and DOJ) which former President Trump did not trust in the first place, wants a special master on their team (Democrat) appointed, while Trump (in an effort to counter the actions of the opposing party in the government, and have the review be more fair) wants a Republican candidate.
But government demands do not end there.
The Department of Justice and the attorneys for former President Donald Trump have given their suggestions as to who the special master should be in the case of the search of Mar-a-Lago, but the government wants more.
The Department of Justice wants the former president to pay for the special master in the case, but Trump has said that they should split the cost, Mediaite reported.
“Plaintiff proposes to split evenly the professional fees and expenses of the Special Master and any professionals, support staff, and expert consultants engaged at the Master’s request,” Trump’s request said in the filing.
But the government wants Trump to fully absorb the cost of the special master, Conservative Brief reports.
“The Government’s position is that, as the party requesting the special master, Plaintiff should bear the additional expense of the Special Master’s work,” it said.
I’m actually surprised Liz Cheney isn’t volunteering for the job.
There is no such thing as an independent third party when it comes to Trump.
Maybe Dershowitz or Turley. Even though they’re RATs, the seem to want to follow the Constitution. I don’t know if they’ve weighed in on this subject yet. Probably. It’s easy to miss some things.
Our ENTIRE GOVERNMENT IS CORRUPT!!
Democrats are simply dishonest and unscrupulous.
“O, it is excellent
To have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant.”
The original article on https://republicbrief.com/ misspelled Donor as “Doner” which is a word having a completely different meaning. In a just universe the raid would not have occurred at all.
I agree with that.
Thanks.
Can’t they make a motion to compel the DOJ to GFIS?
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