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Donald Trump PA

Trump files lawsuit demanding FBI-seized materials get independent vetting

The FBI raid earlier this month seized a number of ‘top secret’ documents from Trump’s residence.

FORMER US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit urging a court to name an independent party to screen files that the FBI seized from his Florida home for materials protected by personal privilege.

Claiming in a court filing that he had been targeted for political reasons, Trump demanded that a “special master” be named to review the more than two dozen boxes of files taken in the unprecedented August 8 raid.

The special master — who would not act at the direction of the Justice Department, which ordered the raid — would evaluate the documents and determine which ones Trump could retain as “privileged,” or protected from use in investigations.

“The Mar-a-Lago break-in, search and seizure was illegal and unconstitutional, and we are taking all actions necessary to get the documents back,” Trump said in a statement.

“They took documents covered by attorney-client and executive privilege,” he added.

The FBI warrant indicated that Trump was suspected of illegally taking highly classified documents and official records of his administration from the White House that he did not have the right to possess and had refused to turn over.

Besides potentially violating laws governing highly sensitive records, the department indicated the materials were also important in unspecified ongoing federal investigations.

Investigations that could involve the former president include the broad probe into the January 6, 2021 attack on Congress by Trump supporters, and an overlapping investigation into efforts by his backers to tamper with the 2020 presidential election.

Naming a special master could potentially block investigators’ access to the documents, especially if he or she accepts Trump’s claims that most were privileged.

In addition, it could interfere if the Justice Department is considering charging Trump with obstructing their investigations by refusing to hand over the documents.

The lawsuit was not filed in the federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where the original warrant was issued, but in more distant Fort Pierce, where the sole judge is a Trump appointee.

In the lawsuit Trump suggested the FBI raid was politically motivated.

“The government has long treated president Donald J. Trump unfairly,” it said.

Trump “is the clear frontrunner in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary and in the 2024 General Election, should he decide to run,” it said.

Law enforcement “cannot be used as a weapon for political purposes,” it added.

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    Mute Seamus Quaide
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 7:44 AM

    The sooner he is locked up, the better.

    483
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    Mute JedBartlett
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 8:55 AM

    @Seamus Quaide: He’ll never be locked up. The ensuing violence won’t be worth it for the States. Deals will be done, as is generally the case when it comes to people at this level.

    116
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    Mute Dave Harris
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:40 AM

    @Seamus Quaide: Trump now has enough legal cases against him to be fighting them for the rest of his life. While he probably won’t get locked up chances are he will lose all his money- which would be the best punishment for him

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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:54 AM

    @JedBartlett: Rubbish. It’s way beyond deals. If they don’t lock him up, their democracy is over and they know it. Nobody cares anymore what his base think about anything. Merrick Garland won’t be held hostage by a bunch of illiterate rednecks. Trump is going down hard.

    48
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    Mute JedBartlett
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 12:11 PM

    @JusticeForJoe: We’ll have to agree to disagree again. If they send him down the civil unrest will be enormous, that may sound hyperbolic but I don’t think it’s far off.

    This looks like an effort to stop him from running in 2024. It may be backfiring though as his fund raising since the raid has increased dramatically, going from what was approx $200k daily total to $1 million on two consecutive days. His base is still strong.

    The US is in a very dangerous position. They’ll need to tread carefully.

    32
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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 12:16 PM

    @JedBartlett: Ok, well, for the record, I strongly disagree with pretty much all of this. I get what you’re saying but I think you’re stuck in 2016. He doesn’t have a fraction of the support he had before. Even Fox News are cutting him loose. He’s not a threat anymore. He’s not powerful. He’s just a joke now.

    31
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    Mute Terry Brophy
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 1:44 PM

    @JusticeForJoe: I’d love that to be true but he appears to me to have a much higher chance of walking. If the American justice system was serious about Trump they’d have already taken him down, what are they waiting for its not lack of evidence its fear. If the feds entered any other citizens home and found highly classified material there would have been immediate on the spot arrests.

    16
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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 2:07 PM

    @Terry Brophy: I promise you, you’re wrong. The reason it’s taking so long is because they’re building an airtight case that won’t be thrown out later on appeal. They searched the home of a former President. They don’t do that lightly. They found over 300 documents that are very VERY important to America. I’m telling you it’s gone way past anything he or his friends can handle. He is very scared right now.

    15
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    Mute Gearóid MacEachaidh
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 3:08 PM

    @JedBartlett: I’d normally say that too but I have a feeling he will get jail time here. He’s made enough enemies. Most likely related to tax than this or the January 6th stuff but I think that he’ll do time. Leaving him out purely for political reasons could actually be worse because he could run and his cult will be more emboldened to both vote and cause havoc.

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    Mute Gearóid MacEachaidh
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 3:11 PM

    @JusticeForJoe: I agree. They’re getting all their ducks in a row. The absolute worse thing that could happen would be for him to go to trial and get off. As for Jeds comment that it’s to “stop him running in 2024″ that’s nonsense. He has clearly broken multiple laws. It’s to hold him to account for that. Stopping him running for president again would be a bonus.

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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 3:18 PM

    @Gearóid MacEachaidh: Exactly. Well said.

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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 3:34 PM

    @JedBartlett: totally wrong
    He’s got to be taken out of circulation to deter other want-to-be dictators

    9
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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 3:35 PM

    @Dave Harris: surely you mean all OTHER PEOPLES MONEY

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    Mute Tom Walsh
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 7:43 AM

    “Law enforcement “cannot be used as a weapon for political purposes,”” but the courts can???? How strange!

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    Mute Tony Doyle
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 3:57 PM

    @Tom Walsh: true, but everything about the Funky Gibbon is weird and very STRANGE

    8
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    Mute Paul Keenan
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:05 AM

    And yet the Republican party is still supporting him. Just shows what is wrong with politics in USA

    181
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    Mute Tricia G ☘️
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:48 AM

    @Paul Keenan: You just need to look at Liz Cheney to see what happens when you don’t provide abject fealty to Trump.

    She voted 93% of the time supporting his vision, celebrated the overturning of Roe, but by not buying into the Big Lie she couldn’t get on the ballot as a Republican in a state she’s held for years.

    The party base will not allow any deviation from Trump.

    112
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:58 AM

    @Tricia G ☘️: America is in a bad place and heading towards a worse place. The maga types were always there the last 100 years, then trump gave them a voice and dragged them all out of their swamp. He’s the only one that can quieten that bunch of poorly educated, gun toting, hating, white nutters. But he won’t and they won’t go away.

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    Mute Alan Wright
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 10:53 AM

    @Paul Furey: You should really look into the demographics that vote Republican (hint, its not all “white nutters”). It’s that same tired rhetoric that is causing increasing divide.

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    Mute Dave Harris
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:44 AM

    @Alan Wright: it’s white nutters and the rich knobs who make up trump voters

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 1:56 PM

    @Alan Wright: true! There are non white Republicans, but why they vote Republican is anyone’s guess. The Republican leaders don’t want them and as for the white nutters, they don’t need any rhetoric nor encouragement. They have always been there as is that divide.

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    Mute Alan Wright
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 2:47 PM

    @Paul Furey: But seriously, why do you think “non-white” people vote Republican? Could it be they just don’t agree with the Democrat party ideals and if they vote for Trump they “just ain’t black” (Joe Biden). You say that Republican leaders don’t want black or Hispanic just shows you are blinded by your bias.

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    Mute Podge
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 8:32 PM

    @Dave Harris: it’s a statistical fact that many people who voted for Obama voted for Trump. Cop on to yourself. You’re the problem.

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    Mute Dave Connolly
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 8:14 AM

    Ah it’s so nice to watch the orange squirm.

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    Mute Irish View
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:08 AM

    The liberals are terrified of him running. They are terrified of democracy. For that reason I hope he runs and wins. His anti-globalist stance is also very good.

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    Mute Dave Connolly
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:17 AM

    @Irish View: ah man. You are the greatest comedian on this site. Absolutely batty.

    263
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    Mute Irish View
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:31 AM

    @Dave Connolly: sure Viper Higgins..

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:51 AM

    @Irish View: “the liberals are afraid of democracy” thats your best gag so far. Apart from “trump being anti-globalist”. The Republicans want autocracy and that man is the most globalist of all business men, albeit a failed business man.

    He’s as use less as your trolling. You need to try harder.

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    Mute Irish View
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 10:02 AM

    @Paul Furey: ye guys cant handle an alternative point of view. Almost fascist like.

    78
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 10:19 AM

    @Irish View: at least we are willing to debate it without violence. And you’re actually describing trump and co there when you use the word “fascist” It’s almost like you pick up everything the Republicans are these days and use it to describe liberalism and democracy. Next you’ll be saying that your greatest fear antifa, is far more dangerous and causes far more trouble than trumps favourites of the KKK, proud boys or any of the 600 white supremacy groups in the US.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 10:27 AM

    @Irish View: The liberals, there are no such thing in US politics, there is right and far right.
    His anti globalist stance, are you trying to be funny?

    67
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    Mute Cowboy Ted
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:22 AM

    @Irish View:
    No it is not fascist. You just hold a view that is built on lies and deceit.
    You just can’t see through it. We are in Ireland so we get a better picture of what is going on.
    Trump is a con artist, has always been one, known in New York as one.. To get into bed with him means you have already lost and he is your last chance… He will fleece you…
    You just can’t see that yet..

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    Mute DJ François
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:22 AM

    @Irish View: Salty

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    Mute malcolm smith
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:56 AM

    Like all great dictators, he feels that he is above the law.

    106
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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:06 AM

    Basket cases. The place is like a cartoon.

    82
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 10:08 AM

    The lawful search at Mar-a-Lago came after Trump’s lawyer falsely signed a statement saying all classified materials were returned. The legality is not even a question.

    That man wants to defund the FBI and his magas are posting death threats against Garland. This is the latest in trump trying to squirm his way out of everything and will fail yet again. I wonder what he’ll try tomorrow. He’s becoming as desperate as putin….and his cult are becoming more nuttier and dangerous.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 10:30 AM

    He possibly breaks the law, or as it seems most likely breaks the law, again.
    The police, FBI and Justice department then take action and he wants an independent auditor.
    That is called a judge. Even Judges he appointed are finding him guilty.
    It is like South park or The Simpsons writers are writing his career in politics.

    63
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    Mute ChronicAnxiety
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:05 AM

    We are allowed to comment on this case but not on our own sleeveens?

    50
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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 9:29 AM

    No comments allowed on the article about the safety of Irish politicians. A pity, as the abuse which can develop into threats of violence starts here on The Journal.

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    Mute David Van-Standen
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:11 AM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: It’s a pity, because people should be able to express opposing views on any topic, even if they can be demonstrated to be incorrect.

    The reality is that a small minority may or may not have made threats to politicians, but rather than limit the scope of the article to that alone, it also includes people that question government messaging or question if there is a broader agenda at play to silence any an all dissent on any issue.

    Or indeed if there is a concerted global implementation of legislation to silence dissent and use technology and digital banking to enforce it..

    Given similar measures and actions are taking place globally, it is at the very least worthy of discussion, but discussion of such things are now themselves, condemned as conspiracy theories…

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 5:40 PM

    @David Van-Standen: ‘opposing views’ is NOT the same as personal abuse and vitriol.

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    Mute John Kelly
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:14 AM

    USA really is in a basket case situation

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    Mute Ronnie Smith
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:04 AM

    Trump must be taking lessons from John Delaney. Say it is all personal stuff !!!

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    Mute Eoin Roche
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 11:17 AM

    They are getting independent vetting, a convened Grand Jury, you dense orange flute sack.

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    Mute Patrick Malone
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    Aug 23rd 2022, 4:52 PM

    Is there a shortage of lawyers in usa trump must have most of them on payroll

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