Trump sues justice department over Mar-a-Lago search

BBC News:

Former US President Donald Trump has asked a judge to freeze a justice department investigation of files seized from his home in an FBI search.

In a lawsuit, his legal team asked that an independent lawyer be appointed to oversee documents that agents removed from Mar-a-Lago in Florida this month.

Eleven sets of classified files were taken from Mr Trump’s estate on 8 August, according to the FBI.

Mr Trump is being investigated for potentially mishandling documents.

On Monday, his lawyers asked that a “neutral” third-party attorney – known as a special master – be appointed to determine whether the seized files are covered by executive privilege, which allows presidents to keep certain communications under wraps.

Special masters are normally appointed in criminal cases where there are concerns that some evidence may be protected under attorney-client privilege, or other protections that could make it inadmissible in court.