Federal prosecutors said in a court statement on Monday that the US Justice Department’s search of former President Donald Trump’s residence earlier this month turned up a “small” number of papers that could be protected by the attorney-client privilege.
The FBI seized items from Trump’s Florida estate during its historic August 8 search, and the recent admission by the Justice Department may support a request by Trump’s legal team to appoint a special master to perform a privilege review of those things.
Trump’s request for a special master may have come too late, according to the department, which also disclosed that its filter team had already finished reviewing the information.In delicate instances, a court may appoint a special master, an impartial third party, to evaluate documents that could be protected by the attorney-client privilege and guarantee that investigators do not unlawfully see them.
Over the weekend, US District Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida issued an order expressing her preference to appoint a special master.She directed the Justice Department to reply to Trump’s request and to deliver a more thorough description of the things that were taken from his house under seal.The Justice Department announced on Monday that it will abide by the requirement and submit the information under secrecy by Tuesday.
