A federal judge approved a request from special counsel Jack Smith Monday to keep Donald Trump and his co-defendant and aide Walt Nauta from releasing sensitive information in their classified-documents case.
Trump has been indicted on 37 criminal counts, including willful retention of national-defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements. Smith sought the order last Friday to ensure that Trump and Nauta do not disclose evidence made available during discovery.
“The Discovery Materials, along with any information derived therefrom, shall not be disclosed to the public or the news media, or disseminated on any news or social media platform, without prior notice to and consent of the United States or approval of the Court,” wrote Judge Bruce Reinhart, who also approved the warrant to search Mar-a-Lago last year. “Defendants shall only have access to Discovery Materials under the direct supervision of Defense Counsel or a member of Defense Counsel’s staff. Defendants shall not retain copies of Discovery Material.”
Smith and his colleagues said the materials include “sensitive and confidential information” and also “information pertaining to ongoing investigations, the disclosure of which could compromise those investigations and identify uncharged individuals,” ABC reported.
Violations of the orders could result in contempt of court or civil or criminal sanctions, explained the order.
The documents Trump is accused of retaining contained information about U.S. nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. and its allies, and plans for a possible retaliation in case of a foreign attack, according to the indictment. Also alleged is that on separate occasions in 2021, when he was no longer president, Trump discussed classified military information at the Bedminster Club with individuals who were not authorized to receive it.
Two of Trump’s attorneys who have already made appearances in this case are seeking security clearance in an expedited fashion from the Department of Justice because of the sensitive nature of the documents.