General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn my opinion...
I do not think Judge Kimba Wood should appoint a "special master" to oversee the Cohen warrant evidence.
There is too much possibility or likelihood that one specific "special master" may be biased toward one side or the other.
I think a better solution would be to put the names of the special team of investigators, that will look at the evidence, and have them under lock and key if there is a question about procedures? If that is challenged, then the Judge would be the final arbiter. Unless it is appealed to a higher Court.
I think the Judge is on a similar track with a "taint team" that is independent of the investigators. Let us hope that she sticks to her guns. I think she will.
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https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-hands-defeat-to-trump-and-cohen-over-fbi-raid-youve-miscited-the-law
<snip>
President Donald Trump and his longtime attorney Michael Cohen both lost a court challenge related to the FBIs seizure of Cohens documents they both claim are protected by attorney-client privilege.
Cohen had asked a federal judge for a temporary restraining order to stop federal prosecutors in Manhattan from viewing the information seized by the FBI until an independent third party, called a special master, be allowed to sort out what is protected by attorney-client privilege.
Similarly, Trumps own legal representation in this case, Joanna Hendon, filed a letter on Sunday night asking the judge to give Cohens team first-access to the material.
U.S. District Court Judge Kimba Wood denied the requests and ruled that prosecutors will get first access to the information, followed by Cohens defense team ten days later. Wood noted that she has not yet decided whether she will appoint a special master in the case at all.
more....
duforsure
(11,885 posts)No master needed with the taint team in place to handle this already, and would be a lot more timely too. If a special master is involved the defense could drag this out for a long time. The judge knows this already and should appoint this team to get to work on this asap and be done with it.
kentuck
(111,098 posts)Then she will turn it over to Cohen's lawyers. Trump's lawyers would also receive the documents, I would think?
Then, I guess the government will decide whether or not to indict for a crime. It's hard to see how a search warrant of this magnitude would not result in criminal penalties?
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)I think the prosecution getting first access might be a greater concern in the context you raise with the Special Master. Then again, I seem to be a bit more concerned about how this is going down than many of my DU friends. At this point, I very happy with how the judge is handling it.
kentuck
(111,098 posts)I cannot think of a better Judge.
imanamerican63
(13,798 posts)Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)I believe that the judge will make the best choice based upon the law of the case without my input or knowledge.