The granting of the request for a special master -- a step the DOJ vehemently opposed -- is a significant complication for prosecutors since it means they will be prevented from reviewing material taken from Trump's residence for now. An investigation into the potential damage to national security wrought by Trump's careless handling of the material was allowed to continue.

The comparatively mundane task of finding an official to fulfill the role will be difficult since filings in the case and Trump's characteristically emotional response to its intricacies suggest agreement between the parties could be close to impossible. Then, given the highly classified nature of some of the material, the person concerned will need to have top security clearances, further narrowing the pool of possible candidates. And the official must be willing to brave the stream of invective that could be flung their way by the former President, who, in an inflammatory campaign trail appearance on Saturday night, branded FBI agents as "vicious monsters."

The special master's role will also be complicated by the vague mandate he or she has so far been given by Cannon. Questions of executive privilege -- a president's right to receive private information and advice from officials -- has been sparsely litigated, especially in the case of former commanders in chief.

On the face of it, a former president has no established right to make such claims, especially for classified material that did not originate in the White House. But this is an issue that Trump might himself try to challenge in court as part of his frequent strategy of trying to delay accountability.

The granting of the request for a special master -- a step the DOJ vehemently opposed -- is a significant complication for prosecutors since it means they will be prevented from reviewing material taken from Trump's residence for now. An investigation into the potential damage to national security wrought by Trump's careless handling of the material was allowed to continue.

The comparatively mundane task of finding an official to fulfill the role will be difficult since filings in the case and Trump's characteristically emotional response to its intricacies suggest agreement between the parties could be close to impossible. Then, given the highly classified nature of some of the material, the person concerned will need to have top security clearances, further narrowing the pool of possible candidates. And the official must be willing to brave the stream of invective that could be flung their way by the former President, who, in an inflammatory campaign trail appearance on Saturday night, branded FBI agents as "vicious monsters."

The special master's role will also be complicated by the vague mandate he or she has so far been given by Cannon. Questions of executive privilege -- a president's right to receive private information and advice from officials -- has been sparsely litigated, especially in the case of former commanders in chief.

On the face of it, a former president has no established right to make such claims, especially for classified material that did not originate in the White House. But this is an issue that Trump might himself try to challenge in court as part of his frequent strategy of trying to delay accountability.