Justice Department open to Trump special master choice
Justice Department open to Trump special master choice
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DOJ signals agreement to Trump' s choice for special master
Former President Trump speaks at August's Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas. Photo: Brandon Bell via Getty Images The Department of Justice signaled in a filing Monday that it would accept candidate proposed by former President Trump's legal team for overseeing a review of the documents from Mar-a-Lago. Why it matters: The selection of a special master has been a between Trump and the DOJ. If Judge Aileen Cannon approves the pick, Judge Raymond Dearie would be charged with determining which documents should be shielded from the federal prosecutors who are investigating potential mishandling of classified material. What they're saying: The DOJ that Dearie, along with its two original nominees, has "substantial judicial experience, during which they have presided over federal criminal and civil cases, including federal cases involving national security and privilege concern.""In selecting among the three candidates, the government respectfully requests that the Court consider and select the candidate best positioned to timely perform the special master’s assigned responsibilities." Background: The Reagan-appointed Dearie has served as a federal judge in New York since the 1980s and now serves as a senior judge on the circuit after retiring in 2011.He previously served on the and was one of the judges who signed off on an FBI and DOJ request for to monitor former Trump campaign adviser for an investigation into in the 2016 election. The big picture: Trump has to reject the DOJ's request for a to let a review evidence seized from Mar-a-Lago.Cannon's ruling temporarily blocked the DOJ from reviewing the documents, which the agency has said will cause "irreparable harm" to the government and the public.It's unclear whether Cannon would lift that restriction once a special master is appointed and approved. Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from the DOJ in the court filing and further context.