The court-appointed special master reviewing the materials seized by the FBI from former personal attorney for President Trump, Michael Cohen, in April released another report Friday, saying only a small fraction of them fall under attorney-client privilege.
According to court documents, Barbara Jones reviewed eight boxes of hard copy materials, which she said contained “639 total items consisting of 12,543 pages.” Of these, Jones said she agrees with Cohen’s defense and federal prosecutors that 13 items are privileged or partially privileged, and one “remains under consideration.”
Jones also reviewed the contents of two phones and one iPad.
“Out of 291,770 total items, the Special Master agrees [with defense and with prosecutors] that 148 items are Privileged and/or Partially Privileged and that 7 items are Highly Personal,” she wrote in regard to those electronic devices.
This means a total of just 161 items are privileged or partially privileged of the more than 3.7 million items seized from Cohen.
Jones also recommended Friday that Wood extend the June 15 deadline for her to turn over what falls under attorney-client privilege to June 25, in light of additional materials produced earlier today.
Jones was appointed by U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood in the Southern District of New York to decide what falls under attorney-client privilege and thus will be off limits to federal prosecutors.
Cohen has not yet been charged, but has been confirmed as being under federal investigation. He is also reportedly expected to cooperate with the federal government.
Jones said what has been identified as privileged, partially privileged, and highly personal will be provided to the court, and what remains that has not been designated as privileged or highly personal has already been released to the government.
Barbara Jones Michael Cohen report by Washington Examiner on Scribd
