Former President Donald Trump does not have to say whether the U.S. government’s list of property seized from Trump’s Florida estate is accurate, a U.S. judge ruled on Sept. 29.
But Dearie was also attempting to force Trump to file a response to the list that would say whether it was accurate or whether it omitted any items. Trump lawyers opposed the effort, noting that the order appointing Dearie did not mention a declaration or affidavit from Trump on the matter. Government officials supported Dearie, claiming the accuracy attestation was required before the special master began reviewing the materials.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, sided with Trump.
“The Court’s Appointment Order did not contemplate that obligation; Defendant since has complied with the requirement to attest to its now-revised inventory; and the parties and the Special Master now are situated to proceed forward with the review process pending exchange of the actual materials,” she added.
If disputes concerning the inventory arise in the future, the parties can make them known to Dearie, who will make recommendations that may or may not be adopted by Cannon.
Cannon also set deadlines for securing a vendor to upload the documents to a portal where Trump lawyers and Dearie can access them.
The parties must agree upon and finalize a contract with a company to perform the work no later than Oct. 5, according to the order. And the government must make the documents available to Trump lawyers and Dearie no later than Oct. 13.
Trump’s team is set to review the documents and say which ones they believe are protected by privilege, including attorney-client privilege. The government can then lodge objections. Dearie will recommend to Cannon which documents should actually be deemed privileged. Dearie now has until Dec. 16, per the new order.
The government has already separated out materials it thinks fall under attorney-client privilege, and provided those to Trump lawyers.
