A federal judge has revealed that FBI agents seized President Donald Trump’s medical records and tax documents during the raid on his Mar-a-Lago home last month.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge from the Southern District of Florida Judge Aileen M. Cannon ordered that an independent special master be appointed to review Trump’s records for attorney-client and executive privilege.
As Slay News reported, Cannon also ordered the Department of Justice halts its own review of the material for investigative purposes.
While issuing the order, the judge also revealed the types of documents that had been seized from Trump’s Florida residence.
“According to the Privilege Review Team’s Report, the seized materials include medical documents, correspondence related to taxes, and accounting information,” Cannon wrote.
A source familiar with the case reportedly told Fox News that Democrat President Joe Biden’s FBI seized 40 years of Trump’s medical records from Mar-a-Lago during the raid.
Congressional Democrats have been seeking Trump’s tax returns since 2019.
Last month, a federal appeals court paved the way for the House Ways and Means Committee to finally obtain Trump’s tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service, under a law that permits the disclosure of an individual’s tax returns to the congressional committee.
Trump may seek emergency intervention measures from the Supreme Court in an attempt to temporarily block any release of those tax records to the committee.
“The United States is examining the opinion and will consider appropriate next steps in the ongoing litigation,” Justice Department Spokesman Anthony Coley said in a statement.
FBI agents seized boxes containing records covered by attorney-client privilege and potentially executive privilege during the raid.
Attorney-client privilege refers to a legal privilege that keeps communications between an attorney and their client confidential.
It is unclear, at this point, if the records include communications between the former president and his private attorneys, White House counsel during the Trump administration, or a combination.
The FBI had also seized Trump’s passports during the raid and later returned them to the 45th president.
Last week, the DOJ—after Cannon’s order—filed a more detailed list of documents taken in its raid of Mar-a-Lago, including dozens of classified documents and folders with classified markings.
Also included was a wide assortment of other items, including over 1,000 documents that did not have classified markings, several “Article of Clothing/Gift Item” entries, and hundreds of printed news articles.
It is also not clear why investigators seized items labeled “Article of Clothing/Gift Item.”
In all, the DOJ said it took 18 such items.
Meanwhile, Cannon’s order Monday halted the Justice Department’s “taint” or “filter” team’s review of seized records.
“Furthermore, in natural conjunction with that appointment, and consistent with the value and sequence of special master procedures, the Court also temporarily enjoins the Government from reviewing and using the seized materials for investigative purposes pending completion of the special master’s review or further Court order.”
The order, though, “shall not impede the classification review and/or intelligence assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (‘ODNI’) as described in the Government’s Notice of Receipt of Preliminary Order.”
Last month, Trump’s legal team asked Cannon to appoint a special master in the wake of the unprecedented search of his property.
Trump’s lawyers argue that the DOJ’s “Privilege Review Team” should not be the final arbiter of whether its actions were proper in such a high-profile case and that the review team’s scope was too narrow.
Meanwhile, Trump, after Cannon’s order, posted on his TRUTH Social account, slamming the “corrupt” Justice Department.
“Remember, it takes courage and ‘guts’ to fight a totally corrupt Department of ‘Justice’ and the FBI,” Trump said.
“They are being pushed to do the wrong things by many sinister and evil outside sources.”
“Until impartiality, wisdom, fairness, and courage are shown by them, our Country can never come back or recover–it will be reduced to being a Third World Nation!” Trump added.
The government conducted the initial search of Trump’s home in response to what it believes to be a violation of federal laws: 18 USC 793 — Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information; 18 USC 2071 — Concealment, removal or mutilation; and 18 USC 1519 — Destruction, alteration or falsification of records in Federal investigations.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said he personally approved the search of Trump’s home.
