DoJ seeks to question Trump team that found more classified documents

The pattern of prosecutors now seeking judicial intervention at every turn signals an aggressive posture from the special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the investigation after being appointed to insulate the department from accusations of political conflicts with Trump, who is now a 2024 presidential candidate.

After initially resisting suggestions to retain an outside firm to search his properties for any classified documents, Trump retained people to search his other properties including Trump Tower in New York, Trump Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, Mar-a-Lago, and a storage unit in Florida.

The closed-door proceedings before Howell come as the justice department is understood to be weighing next steps specifically for the documents case, including whether to either immunize witnesses to force their testimony, or threaten charges to pressure them into cooperating with prosecutors.

But it would also probably open a window into how the department intends to proceed with the investigation. Prosecutors are loth to use immunity as it makes future prosecution difficult and former US attorneys say it would be offered only to help construct a case against a bigger target, such as Trump.

The department most recently conferred immunity to the Trump adviser Kash Patel at the start of November over his objections, the Guardian reported, forcing him to testify before the grand jury after he previously asserted his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination in questioning.