Should we be worried about the prospect of a special master? Would...

[LAS14]

... the regular professionals still be involved?

tia
las

[Claustrum]

1. I would expect it would be a political person in charge.

In republican world, unless you believe in the "big lie" and TFG is king, you aren't republican enough.

[lark]

2. Everything with tfg is a worry.

He's corrupt and every thing he touches get corrupted so yes there is concern.

[Ocelot II]

3. Andrew Weissman thinks not. TFG might have opened a whole big can of worms on himself.

Link to tweet

[FalloutShelter]

6. Wouldn't the "special master" have to have an exceptionally high security clearance

to view these docs? Would they not have to be viewed in a skiff?
It would seem to me that the pool of potential special masters is pretty slim.

[allegorical oracle]

10. Yeah, my first thought was "what mortal could handle that chore and not be called political?" My

second thought: "Who would accept such a wasp nest -- knowing death threats would loom?"

[dalton99a]

4. The judiciary is infested with fascists masquerading as judges

[VMA131Marine]

5. Special master is a delaying tactic

The danger is if this Trump-appointed judge gives the SM the authority to look for and hold back “executive privileged” material. Typically the only material that could be withheld from the investigation team is attorney-client privileged material, which the taint team should already have done. Even then, the attorney-client privilege is limited if communications involve potential criminal activity.
If the SM can look for EP material then DOJ will obviously appeal and that will lead to further delay as appeals move through the court system, presumably ending up at SCOTUS. Once it gets there, all bets are off with this current court but they should just refuse to hear the case. My guess would be that Trump will challenge the Constitutionality of the Presidential Records Act that says he couldn’t take this material in the first place. That really is his only recourse.

[VMA131Marine]

7. Notice how Trump has not said anything

about the potential biases of THIS foreign-born judge (Colombia).

[Thomas Hurt]

14. I gather he appointed her, but yeah that won't stop him from smearing her...

if she doesn't do as he wants.

[Hortensis]

8. No, of course not. Only professionals would be involved.

We don't care if a special master removes tRump's old dental bills and drawings for remodeling his dining room. No master would be colluding in these huge crimes by hiding documents so sensitive tRump desperately needs them to disappear. Remember, their existence is already documented by various government agencies.

What Weissman points out suggests tRump and company didn't learn enough from claiming Obama was spying on tRump Tower, which threw open the door for the FBI to come in and investigate. Perhaps they already know there's no hope of legitimate legal rescue and are putting everything into building political outrage. If Republicans could take over the government it could mostly go away. If not -- to mitigate consequences and position for a deal.

[Claustrum]

9. Honestly, I have thought of TFG or company getting caught when our IC listened in on other foreign

targets, much like how they discovered Flynn. I know for sure TFG will twist it that the democrats are spying on them but the reality is that they were caught red-handed during their conversation with foreign nationals when the IC community was spying on the foreign nationals.

[Hortensis]

11. And blew it up into major national news. :) At this point,

their biggest asset is treason-level support on the right. Otherwise, delay, delay, delay.

I'm really looking forward to learning when Season 2 (or "the next tranche" ) of the January 6 committee's riveting series will begin.

[Saboburns]

12. Not even a little bit.

Besides it's not a done deal. Though I suspect one will be granted. Just more proof of the erosion in Rule of Law here in America. That citizen Trump is treated unlike others.

If a SM is granted it won't matter a whit. What will happen is the MAGAt media will be rapturous claiming a HUGE win for Trump, and also that this somehow proves his innocence.

Total horse shit.

SM can't rewind time. FBI has had everything since August 8th. They know everything already.

SM may return a few sundry things to Cheese Dick. His crayon pictures, finger paint masterpieces, and sharpie doodles. Nothing of the least importance. But again, if it happens it will be spun as HUGE win.

[MineralMan]

13. No, not really. It's a delaying tactic.

Anyone chosen would have to be cleared at the Top Secret level, at a minimum. Anyone not already holding such a security clearance would have to go through the clearance process.

Trump is just trying to delay things.

[VMA131Marine]

15. Federal Judges don't need a clearance to see classified material

if it’s relevant to the case they are hearing. The SM would be another Federal judge.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2009/06/how-judges-handle-classified-documents.html

[emulatorloo]

16. No. Yes the regular professionals would be involved. FBI has probably already gone thru the boxes

and pulled out the documents, because Trump filed this nonsense too late.


Six Days: Trump’s Second Whack Filing Is Too Late
https://www.emptywheel.net/2022/08/27/six-days-trumps-second-whack-filing-is-too-late/

Additionally DOJ will get to respond to the Judge before her final decision. They may release more damaging information on what Trump had, not covered by “attorney client” priveledge.

[onenote]

17. In the past it has been a retired judge. I think the current or former head of the Archives

would be a good choice.