IIn the affair surrounding secret documents confiscated from former US President Donald Trump’s private estate, a US judge has appointed a special expert to examine the documents. Judge Aileen Cannon ruled Thursday that New York federal judge Raymond Dearie should review the files. The US Department of Justice had agreed to the appointment of Trump’s proposed candidate last week.
During a raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in early August, the FBI seized dozens of files marked “top secret,” “secret,” or “confidential.” Most recently, there had been media reports that a top-secret document on another country’s nuclear weapons was found on Trump’s premises.
Judge Cannon ruled last week that the Justice Department should not use any of the seized documents in its investigation until the Special Advisor has completed his review. The ministry, on the other hand, had demanded that part of the files should go immediately to the investigative authorities. On Thursday, however, Cannon declined to back down from her injunction. It is now unclear how long Judge Dearie, 78, will review the documents. The judge set a deadline of November. The examiner should identify any confiscated personal belongings of the ex-president and make recommendations in the event of potential disputes between the two parties about the categorization of the documents.
In conflict with the espionage law
Trump is suspected of violating an espionage law, which contains strict requirements for the retention of national security documents, by taking the documents to his private home. US Presidents are required to hand over all official documents, including emails and letters, to the National Archives upon leaving office.
The raid in Mar-a-Lago has led to fierce political disputes in the United States. Trump has repeatedly described the search of his villa as politically motivated. He accuses President Joe Biden’s Democrats of using the judiciary to prevent him from running for president again in 2024.
