The Justice Department is opposing the appointment of a special master
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is slamming the Department of Justice after the agency opposed his request for a “special master” to review the documents seized from his private residence, Mar-a-Lago estate.
Trump says he had already “declassified” the materials that the FBI seized during the unprecedented raid of the beach estate.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is opposing the appointment of a special master to review documents seized from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
In a 40-page response filed Tuesday, the DOJ says Trump “lacks standing” because the records in question belong to the United States. Additionally, the DOJ’s filing claims the documents were likely “concealed and removed from the Storage Room and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation.”
On Wednesday morning, Trump said via Truth Social posts that it was “terrible” that the FBI “during the Raid of Mar-a-Lago, threw documents haphazardly all over the floor (perhaps pretending it was me that did it!), and then started taking pictures of them for the public to see. Thought they wanted them kept Secret? Lucky, I Declassified!”
Also reacting to Attorney General Merrick Garland’s Tuesday memo to personnel in which highlighted DOJ’s policy that department communications to Congress is required to go through the Office of Legislative Affairs, Trump said on Truth Social, “Congratulations to the many FBI & DOJ Whistleblowers who have flooded the offices of our Senators & Congressmen/women with really bad things to say about what is going on. This is the time, after many years of lawbreaking & unfairness, to clean things up. All things for a reason. DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!”
Garland’s memo was issued after a whistleblower made claims to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. According to Grassley, the individual said there is “deeply rooted political infection” within the FBI.
A deadline of 8 p.m. ET Wednesday has been set for Trump’s legal team to file its reply to DOJ’s opposition of appointing a special master.
