{O/C} The director of the National Intelligence has ordered "a damage report" as the agency assesses the potential risk posed by the documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
This as the Justice Department says it has wrapped up its review of the documents.
{Take SOT}
The heart of the National Intelligence is throbbing faster than ever after its director requested vetting the potential national security risk, wreaked by the 11 sets of classified materials and 184 secret records.
The Department of Justice has also reported a limited set of purported attorney-client privileged information seized by the FBI.
This, after Trump's legal team claimed Trump, as commander-in-chief, had the overriding power to declassify everything.
A Trump lawyer has sought to sift through the seized items, which is why a federal judge is considering granting a special master for that.
But given the DOJ sorting of the documents is now over, experts say that obviates the need fo a special master.
{Soundbite}
Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter:
The Justice Department, in saying that it has already completed its review of the documents, is effectively suggesting that the appointment of a special master is no longer necessary or important because it is saying that it has effectively already done the work that a special master would be tasked with doing.
{VO}
But a Trump attorney begged to differ.
{Soundbite}
JAMES TRUSTY, Attorney for Donald Trump:
We have a lot of problems really accepting everything at face-value that's coming out of the DOJ these days.
It's a very politicised play, I'm sad to say.
{VO}
And now, it appears candidate Trump was just playing his trump card.
{Soundbite}
DONALD TRUMP, 2016 U.S. Presidential Election Republican Nominee:
In my administration, I'm going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information.
{VO}
What's more, Republicans warned charging Trump could light the touchpaper.
{Soundbite}
LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R) South Carolina:
I'll say this: If there's a prosecution of Donald Trump for mishandling classified information, there'll be riots in the streets.
{VO}
The White House defended Biden and steered clear of the smouldering furnace.
{Soundbite}
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, White House Press Secretary:
I can say that he (President Biden) has not been briefed.
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