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Report: FBI Seized Privileged Trump Records During Raid — DOJ Opposes Independent Review
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
The FBI seized boxes containing records covered by attorney-client privilege and possibly executive privilege during its raid of former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to reports.
Sources told Fox News that the Justice Department also opposed Trump lawyers’ request for the appointment of an independent, special master to review the records.
Sources familiar with the investigation told Fox News Saturday that the former president’s team was informed that boxes labeled A-14, A-26, A-43, A-13, A-33, and a set of documents—all seen on the final page of the FBI’s property receipt —contained information covered by attorney-client privilege.
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Sources told Fox News that, due to attorney-client privilege, Trump’s team asked the Justice Department for their position on whether they would support a third party, independent special master to review those records, but sources told Fox News that the DOJ notified Trump’s team that they would oppose that request.
Attorney-client privilege means communications between an attorney and their client are kept confidential.
Other documents could also be covered by executive privilege, according to sources.
“Sources told Fox News that some records could be covered by executive privilege, which gives the president of the United States and other officials within the executive branch the authority to withhold certain sensitive forms of advice and consultation between the president and senior advisers,” Fox News reported.
Trump responded to the report Sunday on Truth Social, asking for the FBI to return the privileged materials.
“Oh great! It has just been learned that the FBI, in its now famous raid of Mar-a-Lago, took boxes of privileged ‘attorney-client’ material, and also ‘executive’ privileged material, which they knowingly should not have taken. By copy of this TRUTH, I respectfully request that these documents be immediately returned to the location from which they were taken. Thank you!” he stated.
TRUMP: "By copy of this TRUTH, I respectfully request that these documents be immediately returned to the location from which they were taken. Thank you!" pic.twitter.com/oD1tGbpjOl
— Benny Johnson 🍊 (@bennyjohnson) August 14, 2022
The search warrant signed by Judge Bruce Reinhart and approved by DOJ Attorney General Merrick Garland allowed the FBI to seize “all physical documents and records constituting evidence, contraband, fruits of crime, or other items illegally possessed” by Trump that resulted in about 15 boxes being taken from Mar-a-Lago.
Constitutional attorney Jonathon Turley claimed the FBI’s refusal to appoint a special master to independently review the documents is suspect.
“The request for a special master would seem reasonable, particularly given the sweeping language used in the warrant. It is hard to see what material could not be gathered under this warrant,” Turley wrote Sunday.
“Given that sweeping language (and the various lawsuits and investigations facing Trump), it would seem reasonable to request a special magistrate. That is why the reported refusal is so concerning. What is the harm from such a review? The material is now under lock and key. There is no approaching deadline in court or referenced grand jury.”
Trump has claimed that he declassified all records in question, which he had the authority to do as Commander-in-Chief.
“Number one, it was all declassified,” Trump wrote in a statement released to reporters. “Number two, they didn’t need to ‘seize’ anything.”
“They could have had it anytime they wanted and that includes LONG ago,” he wrote. “ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS ASK.”
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