Trump Seeks to Block FBI from Reviewing Mar-a-Lago Documents

    Image copyright: AP [via Al Jazeera]

    The Facts

    • Lawyers for Trump requested in a Mon. court filing that the FBI be prevented from continuing to review documents recovered earlier this month from the former president's Mar-a-Lago home until a neutral "special master" is appointed to inspect the records.

    • The filing - assigned to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon appointed to the bench by Trump - asks that the Dept. of Justice provide a more detailed property receipt outlining items seized during the Aug. 8 search, and that anything outside the scope of the warrant be returned.


    The Spin

    Pro-Trump narrative

    It's unprecedented and absurd for the FBI to target a former president, especially when that former president is considering a run for office against the current administration. The affidavit underpinning the raid will eventually have to be made public, and the American people will hopefully then know the real reasons why Trump is under attack.

    Democratic narrative

    Federal law enforcement officials have acted in accordance with due process: They believe there's evidence of a crime, so they consulted a judge, were granted and then executed a search warrant. By inflaming tensions among Trump's base and calling into question the FBI as an institution the GOP is taking the dangerous and indefensible position that Trump is above the law.


    Political split

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    RIGHT

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