The United States government and former President Trump’s legal team have both nominated their preferred candidates to serve as an independent special master to review records seized by the FBI during its unprecedented raid on Mar-a-Lago in last month, but the two sides disagree about the scope of that person’s duties. The Justice Department filed the names of two retired judges on Friday. The first judge, Barbara Jones, served on the federal bench in Manhattan and served as a special master in high-profile cases involving Rudy Giuliani and Michael Cohen. The second, Thomas Griffith, is a former lawyer on the federal appeals court in the District of Columbia. The Trump team nominated a retired judge, Raymond Deary — also the former top federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York — and a prominent Florida attorney, Paul Hack Jr. U.S. District Judge Elaine Cannon had given on both sides until Friday to submit potential candidates for the role of master master, as well as proposals for the scope of the individual’s duties and the timing of their work. TRUMP SAYS SPENDING TIME WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH II WAS AN ‘EXTREME’ HONOR President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at HoverTech in Allentown, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Both parties say they will advise Judge Cannon of their respective positions on the other party’s proposed nominees on Monday, September 12, 2022. If the two sides fail to agree on a nominee, Judge Cannon may appoint a candidate on her own. Trump’s lawyers said they believe the so-called special master should review all the documents seized by the FBI during its search last month at Mar-a-Lago, including classified files, and filter out what he might protected from executive claims. privilege. JUDGE DISMISSES TRUMP LAWSUIT AGAINST CLINTON, DNC, OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN RUSSIA INVESTIGATION Local law enforcement officers are seen in front of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida on August 9, 2022. (Giorgia Viera/AFP via Getty Images) The Justice Department, in contrast, said it did not believe the arbitrator should be allowed to inspect classified records or resolve potential claims of executive privilege. Fox News first reported this week the FBI seized Trump’s medical recordsdocuments with his accounting information and correspondence related to his taxes. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Attorney-client privilege refers to a legal privilege that keeps attorney-client communications confidential. It is unclear at this point whether the records include communications between the former president and his private lawyers, White House counsel during the Trump administration, or a combination. FBI agents seized boxes containing files covered by attorney-client privilege and possibly executive privilege during the raid, sources told Fox News last month. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a press conference, Monday, June 13, 2022, at the Department of Justice in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The administration conducted the initial search of Trump’s home in response to what it believes to be violation of federal laws: 18 USC 793 — Collection, transmission, or loss of defense information. 18 USC 2071 — Concealment, removal or mutilation. and 18 USC 1519 — Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he personally authorized the search of Trump’s home. Brooke Singman of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report Andrew Mark Miller is a writer at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips at [email protected]
