U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon has signaled she is inclined to appoint a special master, but will decide after hearing arguments from Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Dept.
Lawyers for the Justice Department and former President Donald Trump are in federal court here Thursday afternoon, arguing over whether a judge should appoint a special master to review materials the FBI seized from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and club last month.
U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon signaled over the weekend that she was inclined to appoint the special master, but instructed the government to present its case against naming one in a filing ahead of the hearing.
Reporters are present for the hearing but according to the rules of the court cannot send updates while it is underway.
In a blistering response to the Trump request late Tuesday, the Justice Department said a special master is unnecessary, and the unprecedented FBI search of a former president’s home was justified. The filing alleged that Trump and his advisers repeatedly failed to turn over highly classified government documents even after receiving a subpoena and pledging that a “diligent search” had been conducted, leading to the Aug.
