On Thursday, the US Department of Justice decided to appeal the decision of a federal judge to allow the appointment of an independent expert to review documents seized by the FBI during a search of Donald Trump’s home.
The Republican billionaire has asked the court to appoint an independent third party to examine documents seized in this unprecedented security operation for the former president so that he can determine what can be returned to him or classified as “secret” and cannot be used in this the investigation is aimed at him.
Judge Eileen Cannon, appointed by Trump in 2020, decided on September 5 to accept his request in favor of the former president.
In addition to announcing its intention to appeal the decision, the Justice Department has asked for a suspension of the judge’s ruling that prevents the authorities from accessing “top secret” documents during an investigation.
The ministry’s lawyers said the documents belonged to the executive, not the former president.
The ministry has strongly opposed the appointment of an independent third party, saying it could prevent investigators from gaining access to documents and “would seriously harm government interests, including in the area of national security.”
Donald Trump reacted to the department’s announcement by praising the judge’s “courageous and brilliant” decision.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social network that the FBI and administration “will spend millions of dollars and a lot of time and effort (…) instead of fighting the standard corruption and crime that is unfolding before our eyes.”
FBI agents during a search of the Mar-a-Lago resort on August 8 found secret documents.
In its case, the court said the documents were so sensitive that “FBI counterintelligence agents and Justice Department prosecutors required additional clearance before they were allowed to view certain documents.”
Donald Trump has confirmed that these documents have been declassified.
A detailed list of what was confiscated on August 8 from Trump’s house shows that he kept more than 11,000 classified and non-confidential government-related documents.
Trump claims he has the right to keep it, but legally it is being returned to the National Archives.
