Judge Aileen Cannon denied special counsel Jack Smith's request to file under seal a list of 84 potential witnesses that former President Donald Trump and Walt Nauta could not communicate with.
Smith was hoping to keep the names of witnesses that could offer incriminating testimony against Trump a secret. In a filing explaining the rejection, Cannon wrote that the government did not properly explain why such a move would be necessary.
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"The Government's Motion does not explain why filing the list with the Court is necessary; it does not offer a particularized basis to justify sealing the list from public view; it does not explain why partial sealing, redaction, or means other than sealing are unavailable or unsatisfactory; and it does not specify the duration of any proposed seal," Cannon wrote.
NEW: Judge Aileen Cannon denies the Special Counsel’s request to file under seal a list of 84 potential witnesses that Trump and Nauta are not allowed to communicate with about the case. pic.twitter.com/nuCXDF9ZME
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) June 26, 2023
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It has been hinted previously that the names could include figures still close to Trump, Insider reported.
In addition to Trump, a variety of leading news organizations, including the New York Times, CNN, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and Insider, have all written to the court arguing against keeping the names private, arguing that it would deprive the public of vital knowledge about the extraordinary case.