NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer for Donald Trump says the president is ready to offer his opinion on what evidence seized from his personal attorney’s home and office are protected by attorney-client privilege.
The lawyer, Joanna Hendon, will have the chance to tell U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood in person on Thursday about what Trump can do. The judge scheduled a noon conference to hear how lawyers are preparing to review large amounts of data for attorney-client privilege after the April 9 raids on Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen.
“Our client will make himself available, as needed, to aid in our privilege review on his behalf,” the former federal prosecutor told Wood in a letter.
Prosecutors said the raids resulted from a criminal fraud investigation. Criminal prosecutors have not been able to review the content of the materials after Cohen’s lawyers came to court to insist upon a role in deciding what is subject to the privilege. Hendon has insisted that the president, as a client of Cohen, had a vital role in the process.
Cohen was expected to be at Thursday’s hearing.
Hendon, as well as lawyers for Cohen and the Trump Organization, told the judge on Wednesday that they have plenty of lawyers ready to do the work.
The judge, though, has indicated she is likely to appoint a neutral attorney known as a special master to help decide what is subject to the privilege. Ultimately, the judge can rule in any unresolved disputes.
Wood directed prosecutors to provide an update on Thursday on when copies of seized materials will be turned over and how fast.
There’s no potential for nuance here. It’s going to be some hilariously over-broad proclamation and hopefully Judge Kimba says thanks but no thanks, we’re going to let the adults do the work here.
If it cuts into executive time it ain’t going to be anything well thought out or through.
Since when does the defense get to decide what evidence can be used in a proceeding? How does Trump have standing in this matter?
What this evidence can show is that Cohen doesn’t do any lawyer work for Trump and therefore there is no attorney-client privilege.
IANAL, but wasn’t he added as an intervenor or intermeddler or some such legal word for an interested party?
This means that the law firm of Hendon would identify the potential problems for Trump. Then he would say, 'These represent A/C privilege". There is no way Donald is going to read (and understand) anything on his own.
As a matter of fact, It would be great to see the orange baboon identify something in front of the judge… and her ask him (not the lawyers) to explain why it should be exempted. I feel certain that a very long and loud beer fart would make more sense than the Donald could ever formulate.
Will this be the first time the Trump cliche of having things in about two weeks actually comes true?