District Court Judge Analisa Torres from the Southern District of New York ordered a “special master” on Wednesday to oversee the review of O’Keefe’s devices, citing “potential First Amendment concerns.”
“The Court recognizes, as other courts in this district have concluded, that ‘the Southern District prosecutors have integrity and decency,’ and the filter team alone could conduct the review ‘with utmost integrity,’” Torres wrote. “However, the Court determines that the appointment of a special master is warranted here because ‘it is important that the procedure adopted… not only be fair but also appear to be fair.’ … In light of the potential First Amendment concerns that may be implicated by the review of the materials seized from Petitioners, the Court finds that the appointment of a special master will ‘help to protect the public’s confidence in the administration of justice.'”
BOOM!!! Federal court orders the appointment of a special master to review materials seized from Project Veritas in the DOJ’s Ashley Biden Diary case… despite DOJ objections, court rules First Amendment protections support our client’s request. Great work by Paul Calli and team! pic.twitter.com/mEreTL9OwM
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) December 8, 2021