donald trump‘s attorneys were faced with questions from the special foreman tasked with examining papers seized at Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s Florida home.
What happened: Judge Raymond Dearie questioned attorneys at Tuesday’s first seizure hearing, picking up on their claims that Trump released the documents discovered at Mar-a-Lago, reported Politically.
Dearie was appointed of Florida federal judges Aileen cannon as a special champion earlier this month.
“My take on it is, you can’t have your cake and eat it,” Dearie said, according to the report. The special master pointed out that Trump’s “litigation strategy” will not affect the review of the documents.
The senior judge reportedly asked what his role would be if the government claims certain documents are classified while Trump’s team disagrees but offers no evidence to dispute it.
“What am I looking for? … As far as I’m concerned, that’s all,” the judge said, according to Politico.
One of Trump’s attorneys said it was “premature” for Dearie to consider the declassification issue, adding that his side was unable to “fully disclose a factual defense.”
“We shouldn’t have to be able to release explanations and testimonies,” he was quoted as saying by Politico.
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Why it matters: Dearie fired back when Trump’s attorney suggested the special master went “a little beyond what Judge Cannon considered in the first instance.”
The tension between Trump’s lawyer and Dearie was interpreted by Politico as an “ominous sign”.
However, Trump’s team reportedly faced a concession as Dearie allowed them through Friday to select a contractor to scan the 11,000 documents, the cost of which will be borne by Trump.
The judge said he was determined to go through the documents and pass his recommendations through them to Cannon…
