A federal judge denied the Justice Department’s request for a partial stay and appointed former President Donald Trump’s pick for a special master to handle documents seized by the FBI.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon selected Raymond Dearie to act as special master in the independent review.
#BREAKING — Judge denies DOJ request on classified docs and appoints Trump pick as special master https://t.co/4bLymSCniv
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 15, 2022
The ruling
“Dearie, a judge for the Eastern District of New York, was one of the Trump team’s picks for special master and the one the DOJ said it would approve of for the task, along with its own proposed candidates,” the Washington Examiner reported.
“Cannon gave Dearie a Nov. 30 deadline to complete the review,” it added.
🚨 BREAKING: NY Judge Raymond Dearie named as Special Master in Trump Mar-a-Lago probe pic.twitter.com/vSJiZ9amoa
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 16, 2022
The details
In addition, the ruling noted that Trump will be responsible to pay for the special master’s fees.
“Plaintiff shall bear 100% of the professional fees and expenses of the Special Master and any professionals, support staff, and expert consultants engaged at the Special Master’s request,” it noted.
JUST IN: Cannon says that Trump will have to pay for the Special Master, Raymond Dearie.
“Plaintiff shall bear 100% of the professional fees and expenses of the Special Master and any professionals, support staff, and expert consultants engaged at the Special Master’s request.”
— Don Lewis (@DonLew87) September 15, 2022
The timing of the ruling is also important. The Nov. 30 deadline means no decision will be required until weeks after the nation’s midterm elections.
The move will help provide a more independent review after the highly politicized nature of the FBI’s raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home last month. Trump called the raid “unprecedented.”
The new ruling will also help stop the left from using the issue to sway voters ahead of the midterm elections in the upcoming critical moment for American voters.