Analysis highlights how Trump’s request for a special master review could backfire
Initially, it seemed as if former President Donald Trump was heading toward victory when Judge Aileen Cannon ruled in his favor to allow a special master to review the documents retrieved from his Mar-a-Lago estate.
However, a new analysis is explaining how that review might backfire on the former president. Business Insider's Tom Porter elaborated on the subject.
"The special master, Judge Raymond Dearie, has not done Trump any favors in his court appearances so far, exposing holes in the legal arguments presented by Trump's attorneys in court, and confronting their attempts to evade scrutiny," Porter wrote.
Porter went on to discuss the hearing that took place on Tuesday, September 20, and how Dearie's approach differs vastly from Cannon's.
He added, "The approach is a big contrast to that taken by Aileen Cannon, the federal judge who initially handled the case. Cannon, a Trump appointee, has been accused by critics accused of appearing to favor Trump in a series of decisions that baffled legal experts."
The reporter also noted some of the other problematic aspects of the review and Dearie's take. "Neither Trump nor his attorneys have offered any evidence to back his claim that the documents were declassified, and have claimed that presenting it could imperil a potential defense if the case comes to court."
"Dearie showed little patience with their arguments at a hearing Tuesday, saying that if Trump's lawyers didn't step up and try and prove Trump's claim he had little choice but to rule in the DOJ's favor."
READ MORE: Trump-nominated judge announces intent to appoint a special master for Mar-a-Lago documents
During the hearing, Dearie offered a brutally honest assessment of the situation.
"As far as I'm concerned, that's the end of it," Dearie said, adding, "You can't have your cake and eat it too."
According to Porter, analysts have also offered their perspective of the situation. It appears the special master review could be another tactic by Trump's legal team to "put as many roadblocks in place to stall the DOJ as he can."
READ MORE: Team Trump's special master request 'all but moot' after DOJ reveals it reviewed seized documents
