Justice Dept. Has Reviewed Mar-a-Lago Documents

Facts

• According to a court filing on Mon., following a review of the material seized from Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence on Aug. 8, the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) has put aside documents that might be subject to attorney-client privilege, potentially making the former president's request for an independent arbiter unnecessary.
• This comes after US District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, appointed by Trump in 2020, on Sat. hinted at her willingness to grant Trump's attorneys' request for a special master to review classified documents and other items acquired by the FBI.
• Cannon gave the DOJ until Tues. to present arguments against appointing a special master, with a court hearing set for Thursday. She further ordered the DOJ to provide, under seal, a more specific inventory for the property taken, and detail the stages of review they've undergone and who has accessed them.
• The redacted search warrant affidavit, released Fri., described the targeted materials as "physical documents and records constituting evidence, contraband, fruits of crime, or other items illegally possessed in violation of three potentials crimes" – namely the Espionage Act, destruction of records, and concealment or mutilation of govt. material.
• Trump's lawyers initially filed a request for a special master on Aug. 22, insisting the search was politically motivated and overbroad, and violated attorney-client and executive privileges. Cannon requested clarifications on several legal aspects of the filing, which she received Friday.
• Following the most recent filing, Cannon will now have access to the government's assessment of the materials when ruling on Trump's request to exclude certain documents.

Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, and New York Post.

Narratives

• Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Townhall. The illegal ransacking of Trump's home was a political hit job meant to prevent him from running for president in 2024, so of course a judge should appoint a special master. Having a neutral party review what was taken from Mar-a-Lago will further reveal how rogue the DOJ and FBI have gone in their efforts to protect the Democratic party.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by Raw Story. Cannon is pandering to Trump. No judge should ever issue even a "tentative" ruling without hearing from both sides, and Cannon has only heard from Trump. Regardless, she'll unlikely be able to appoint a special master in light of the latest DOJ filing and once she hears their arguments; if she tries to she'll undoubtedly be overruled by a higher court on appeal.