In the ongoing criminal case against former President Donald Trump concerning his handling of classified documents, the judge presiding over the matter has denied a government request to file a list of potential witnesses under seal.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has not provided a detailed explanation for the sealing request, leading US District Judge Aileen Cannon to reject the motion in an order issued on Monday in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Request to Seal Witness List in Trump Classified Documents Case
However, it remains unclear whether the witness list will be made public.
As a Trump appointee, Judge Cannon questioned the government’s failure to provide sufficient justification for the sealing of the list and the duration of such sealing. Notably, she has already imposed restrictions on Trump’s ability to contact prosecution witnesses, except through his attorneys.
The judge denied the special prosecutor’s motion without prejudice, meaning that Smith may renew the request in the future.
The government’s list comprises approximately 84 potential witnesses, including long-time acquaintances and employees characterized by Trump’s legal team.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to 37 counts related to the case, including willful retention of national defense information and conspiring to obstruct justice, faces restrictions on speaking with potential witnesses due to a court order.
The special counsel has also requested to postpone the trial date from August 14 to December 11, citing the sensitive nature of certain evidence.
Earlier on the same day, a coalition of media organizations urged Judge Cannon to allow the witness list to be made public on the court docket.
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Media Outlets Stress the Significance of Witness List, Highlighting Unprecedented Disclosure
In her order, the judge denied the media group’s motion to intervene in the case for the purpose of advocating for additional transparency, deeming the issue moot for the time being.
The media organizations emphasized the importance of the list, noting that Trump has already been forbidden from speaking to potential witnesses about the case and characterizing the filing as a significant step in the prosecution.
They stated that it would be the first time the court instructed the government to inform Trump of the identities of individuals who may offer testimony incriminating him.
A representative for Special Counsel Jack Smith declined to comment, while Trump, who will be allowed to review the list regardless, has not objected to its filing under seal, according to the media group’s filing.
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