Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers moved to oppose the Department of Justice’s recent bid to speed up its court appeal of the appointment of a special master to review the slew of documents the FBI took in August when it raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.
“Trump disagrees with and objects to the Government’s distorted and argumentative presentation of facts concerning the unprecedented raid of his home, its conduct in these proceedings, and the procedural history of this case.
“Finally, the extraordinary circumstances herein presented—an investigation of the 45th President by the administration of his political rival—would countenance against any rush to judgment. Indeed, the public interest is served best by transparent and thorough consideration of all the issues.
Previous Filings
Several days before, the Justice Department (DOJ) requested an expedited order in its appeal of the decision to name a special master. District Judge Aileen Cannon appointed Judge Raymond Dearie to be the special master of the records that were taken from Trump’s Florida home.
The non-classified records “may shed light on, for example, how the materials bearing classification markings were transferred to [Trump’s] residence, how they were stored, and who may have accessed them,” the DOJ wrote, adding that the non-classified records may constitute evidence of potential violations of federal statutes on obstruction and concealment or removal of government records.
Last month, the appeals court sided with the DOJ in lifting portions of Cannon’s ruling that had blocked the department from relying on classified materials taken during the raid as part of its Trump investigation. The 11th Circuit also blocked Dearie from accessing classified materials as part of his review.
Trump, on social media, has maintained that he declassified a range of materials while he was president. Among other items, the FBI also took medical records, passports, and tax documents, the former president has contended.
