Trump lawyers acknowledge Mar-a-Lago probe could lead to indictment
Washington PostNov 29, 2022
The Facts
During a hearing on Tuesday, the federal judge who was appointed "special master" to review the documents seized from Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence questioned the former president's lawyers over their reluctance to confirm whether the records are declassified, as Trump has claimed.
This comes as on Monday, Trump's legal team expressed opposition to Judge Dearie's request to reveal information regarding the declassification of some documents, claiming it could compromise Trump's defense should he be indicted.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Trump's lawyers requested a 'special master review' and suggested Dearie for this role, but it's apparent that Dearie isn't going to be as favorable to Trump's cause as Cannon. The review might still be advantageous for Trump, but with Dearie on the case, there's some hope the former president will be held accountable.
Pro-Trump narrative
A potential criminal trial on the rightful return of Trump's personal property would be the right place to explain the declassification of the documents, not the special master review. Explaining these claims to the special master would compromise the Trump legal team's arguments and isn't required by the District Court's order.
