Judge asks US Justice Department for more information on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago records
- US District Judge Aileen Cannon said it was her ‘preliminary intent’ to appoint a special master in the case
- The move signals that Cannon is inclined to grant a request from Trump’s lawyers, who asked for an independent special master to review the records
A federal judge in Florida told the US Justice Department on Saturday to provide her with more specific information about the classified records removed from former US president Donald Trump’s Florida estate and said it was her “preliminary intent” to appoint a special master in the case.
The two-page order from US District Judge Aileen Cannon signals that she is inclined to grant a request from Trump’s lawyers, who this week asked for the appointment of an independent special master to review the records taken from Mar-a-Lago and identify any that may be protected by executive privilege.
The judge scheduled a Thursday hearing to discuss the matter further. A special master is often a former judge.
01:36
FBI raids former US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home
Cannon also directed the Justice Department to file under seal with her more detailed descriptions of the material taken from Trump’s property. The former president’s lawyers have complained that investigators did not disclose enough information to them about what specific documents were removed when agents executed a search warrant on August 8 to look for classified documents.
The special master appointment, if it happens, is unlikely to significantly affect the direction of the Justice Department investigation, though it is possible an outside review of the documents could slow the investigation down.