Prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York have released their suggestions for special master in the Michael Cohen case, the Southern District of New York revealed on Wednesday.
Assuming Judge Kimba Wood decides to move ahead with a special master, one of the men (and they are all men) will be appointed to dig through the documents (and records and digital files and…) seized by the FBI during a raid on Cohen’s home, hotel room and office.
Cohen’s team requested a special master in a letter submitted ahead of a hearing last week, and Wood has intimated that she might be open to appointing one – hence, the nominations.
In a new court filing, prosecutors in the Michael Cohen case have provided their recommended names for a special master. They are all former magistrate judges:
1. Hon. Frank Maas (Ret.)
2. Hon. James C. Francis IV (Ret.)
3. Hon. Theodore Katz (Ret.)— erica orden (@eorden) April 18, 2018
All of the prosecution’s picks are retired judges who served in the Southern District of New York with minimal political connections. Their names are James Francis, Frank Maas and Theodore Katz.
Last night, Cohen’s legal team submitted four suggestions: Bart Schwartz, Joan McPhee, Tai Park and George Canellos – all of whom appear to be working defense attorneys.
Michael Cohen’s attorneys have submitted their four suggestions for a potential special master to review some or all of the seized material, per a new filing. pic.twitter.com/sFvLYh3A6b
— erica orden (@eorden) April 18, 2018
Judge Wood will ultimately decide who will be appointed to the “special master” role after reviewing the nominees.
The government is also expected to finish sorting through the seized evidence by May 11.
The government also says it expects to complete production of the seized material to Michael Cohen’s attorneys by May 11. And prosecutors write that they think a special master, if appointed, wouldn’t be able to begin a review of the material until at least June.
— erica orden (@eorden) April 18, 2018
Both the government and Cohen’s legal team agreed on May 25 for the next status conference.
The government says that the parties jointly request May 25 as the date for the next status conference in the Michael Cohen case.
— erica orden (@eorden) April 18, 2018
In a document submitted with its picks, the New York prosecutors make it clear that they would prefer Wood not appoint a special master – an alternative that is favored by Cohen and his legal team.
Here’s the government’s letter, which:
* Proposes a status conference on May 25
* Emphasizes they don’t want any special master at all.https://t.co/h40xznMvIb— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 18, 2018
Read the full document below:
Southern District by Zerohedge on Scribd
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