The brief characterizes the search, during which the FBI claimed to have retrieved eleven sets of secret papers, as a “shockingly aggressive move” and paints Mr. Trump and his representatives as having cooperated for months.
Donald Trump’s attorneys have urged a federal judge to block the FBI from completing its study of retrieved documents from his Florida home.
They are requesting the appointment of a special master who would inspect the retrieved papers and set aside those that are protected by presidential privilege – a principle that allows presidents to hide certain communications from the public.
The motion was included in a court filing that targets the FBI investigation into the finding of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in a broad sense.
The brief characterizes the 8 August search, during which the FBI claimed to have discovered 11 sets of classified materials, as “shockingly aggressive” and paints the former president and his representatives as having cooperated for months.
“Law enforcement is a shield that safeguards the United States. It cannot be used for political objectives as a weapon “attorneys wrote on Monday.
“Therefore, we need legal aid in the wake of an unprecedented and unwarranted raid at Mar-a-Lago.”
“This issue has captivated the public’s attention in the United States. When the issue at hand involves not only the constitutional rights of President Trump but also the presumption of executive privilege, ‘reasonable’ measures are insufficient “The attorneys wrote.
Separately on Monday, a federal court noted that significant redactions to an FBI affidavit detailing the grounds for the search could render the document “meaningless” if provided to the public.
The “intense” public interest in the probe, however, persuaded US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart to maintain his stance that the report should not be kept entirely secret.
Justice Department authorities wish to keep the full document under wraps, citing the risk of jeopardizing an existing criminal investigation, releasing witness information, and disclosing investigative techniques if any section is made public.
