A federal judge on Thursday appeared sympathetic to former U.S. President Donald Trump's request to appoint a special master to review the documents the FBI seized from his home in August, though she declined to issue a ruling immediately on the matter.
At a hearing in West Palm Beach, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon pressed the Justice Department on why it opposes the appointment of a special master — an independent third party sometimes appointed by a court in sensitive cases to review materials potentially covered by attorney-client privilege to ensure investigators do not improperly view them.
"Ultimately, what is the harm of appointing a special master to review these materials?" asked Cannon, a Trump appointee. "What I'm wondering from the government — what is the harm beyond delaying the investigation?"