Special Master taps retired judge with ‘Top Secret’ clearance to aid in review of seized Mar-a-Lago records

Special Master Raymond Dearie has tapped a retired magistrate judge who served as an impartial adviser to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to assist in his independent review of the thousands of records seized by the FBI from former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

In a filing Thursday, Dearie said he has “determined that the efficient administration of the Special Master’s duties requires the assistance of the Honorable James Orenstein (Ret.), a former United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York, who has experience with complex case management, privilege review, warrant procedures, and other matters that may arise in the course of the Special Master’s duties.” 

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Dearie said that Orenstein has served as “an appointed amicus curiae in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court” and “currently holds Top Secret clearance.” 

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Dearie, who also served on the FISC, signed off on a FISA warrant to surveil Trump campaign aide Carter Page—before the FBI misconduct surrounding that application was discovered.

Dearie, in the filing Thursday, said he will utilize the Eastern District of New York court staff in carrying out his duties as special master.

Dearie, in the filing, noted that he will “seek no additional compensation for performing the duties of Special Master in this action,” but proposed that Judge Orenstein “be compensated at the hourly rate of $500.” 

The special master, with the assistance of Orenstein, is tasked with reviewing approximately 11,000 records seized by the FBI during its unprecedented raid of Trump’s private residence. The special master and his team will review those records for executive privilege, attorney-client privilege, and for personal records.

The Justice Department’s motion was accepted by the 11th Circuit Court this week, which allows the government to continue its review of the approximately 100 classified documents seized during the raid on Aug. 8.

Dearie, on Thursday, also ordered that the Justice Department submit a declaration or an affidavit as to whether the property…