The U.S. Justice Department wants to appeal whether it can reopen the FBI’s investigation into classified documents found during a raid on former President Donald Trump’s home.
The FBI found more than 11,000 government documents during a raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida in early August. The ministry is probing various matters, including whether confidential documents were withheld and whether attempts were made to subvert the central government’s investigation.
Special Master
Earlier this week, an independent arbitrator was appointed by a judge at Trump’s request. This one Special Master Examines the items found during the search.
According to the former president, the FBI investigation was politically motivated and needed a third party to examine the documents more closely.
The judge who appointed the arbitrator ruled that the FBI should not immediately proceed with its investigation into the classified documents. The Justice Department made the request after Trump urged a judge to suspend the criminal investigation pending a jury.
The Justice Department is now trying to access about a hundred seized files containing classified information through an appeal.
Strong opposition from the Ministry of Justice
The Justice Department has previously strongly opposed Trump’s demand for independent arbitration. That arbitrator, former Judge Raymond Deary, has given the government the power to withhold discovery documents, for example, because of so-called executive privilege, or Administrative privilege.
That privilege is a legal doctrine that protects certain communications from the White House. The department found that Trump could not claim executive privilege because the documents were not his; They are owned by the government.