Judge Tanya Chutkan on Thursday denied former President Donald Trump’s request to delay the release of court records and exhibits in the 2020 election interference case until after the election, saying the court would release evidence filed by the government on Friday. said.
In his five-page order, Chutkan said there was a presumption that “all aspects of the criminal trial proceeding” should be publicly accessible, while Trump argued that the material should remain private and denied any claims related to any of it. He said he had not submitted it. Factors to consider. Instead, Trump’s lawyers argued that keeping it under seal for another month “would serve other interests,” Chutkan wrote. “In the end, neither of those arguments are convincing.”
She was tasked with deciding whether to write appendices and summaries. Submitted by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith It should be released to the public early this month, but certain information will be kept secret. Chutkan allowed the briefing to be made public last week, but it contained redacted names of alleged co-conspirators, campaign staffers and White House officials and included specific references to grand jury proceedings.
Shortly after Trump objected to further disclosure, Chutkan approved Smith’s request to submit an appendix to the public document with his proposed edits. But she also granted Trump’s request to put her decision on hold for seven days while he explores further litigation options.
The special counsel noted that most of the appendices contained sensitive material that should not be released to the public. The evidence is, Subject to protective order The documents, issued at the start of the case last year, will likely include testimony before the grand jury and transcripts of FBI interviews.
Trump’s lawyers argued in the filing that “the asymmetrical release of charges and related documents during early voting creates a worrying picture of election interference,” and said Chutkan should not be allowed to release additional information at this time.
Chutkan denied that this would result in “asymmetric disclosure,” noting that the court would not “restrict public access to just one side.” She said President Trump is free to submit legal arguments and factual proposals for immunity at any time. “Before the deadline of November 7, 2024.”
She also said it was Trump’s claims, not the court’s actions, that risked interfering with the election.
“If a court fails to disclose information to which the public had a right to access because of the potential political consequences of disclosure, that in itself could constitute, or appear to be, election interference,” Chutkan wrote. “Accordingly, the court will continue to exclude political considerations from decision-making rather than including them at defendant’s request.”
She said in a separate order Friday that the court would place an appendix containing Smith’s proposed edits on the public list.
Here are the proceedings against Trump: resurrected in august After the Supreme Court found the former president guilty. deserve some exemption Criminal charges arising from official actions taken while in the White House.
test requested new indictments The president opposed the high court’s decision to include a narrower range of charges and remove references to discussions with Justice Department officials. The court’s conservative majority ruled that such interactions were prohibited for prosecutors.
Trump is Charged initially The four charges stem from what Smith claimed in August 2023 was a plot to overthrow the transfer of power after the 2020 election. The former president still faces the same four charges in the new indictment and has pleaded not guilty.
The two sides are currently arguing over whether the conduct alleged in the reduced indictment is protected by presidential immunity, which will ultimately be decided by Chutkan. Trump’s lawyers say he will do it again try to have The entire case was dismissed on presidential immunity and other grounds.
Robert Legare and Melissa Quinn contributed to this report.