Former co-defendants of Trump in his classified documents case, longtime aide Walt Nauta and staffer Carlos De Oliveira, tried to stop the release of both reports. However, the DOJ stated in a recent filing that Volume One does not impact the evidence or charges against Nauta and De Oliveira in their ongoing case. In a subsequent filing, lawyers for Nauta and De Oliveira requested an extension of the order blocking the release of the final report and a hearing to permanently prevent its dissemination.
The lawyers accused the Government of prioritizing politics over a fair trial process and failing to adhere to established rules. Judge Cannon’s ruling allowed the release of the report’s Jan. 6 volume but maintained the original three-day injunction until midnight. Despite previously ruling that Smith was improperly appointed as special counsel, which led to the dismissal of Trump’s case, Judge Cannon determined that this reasoning did not apply to the report related to Trump’s election efforts.
Concerning the classified documents volume, Judge Cannon warned that even sharing it with Congressional leaders could jeopardize the legal rights of the defendants in the criminal proceeding. Trump, along with Nauta and De Oliveira, faced charges related to mishandling classified materials and attempting to tamper with evidence at Mar-a-Lago. Trump also faced separate charges for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results.
Both cases were dismissed following Trump’s reelection, as Justice Department policy prohibits prosecuting a sitting president. Special prosecutor Smith resigned after concluding the cases and submitting his report to Attorney General Garland. In a different case, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes requested access to Smith’s Jan. 6 probe file to hold accountable those involved in attempting to overturn the election results in her state.
The grand jury has issued an indictment, emphasizing the importance of holding accountable those who sought to undermine democracy in the 2020 election. In a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), officials requested any potentially exculpatory evidence uncovered during the investigation be revealed. The communication also made reference to a recent decision by a state judge, granting former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows access to discovery materials to support his defense. However, it was noted in the letter that the state judge lacks the authority to compel a federal agency to disclose information.
The letter stated, “For the reasons outlined above, it is imperative that the Maricopa County Superior Court’s directive be followed. Alternatively, we request this information be provided under the Freedom of Information Act to ensure that justice is served in accordance with the principles of the rule of law.”
In a separate decision, a judge ruled that the DOJ has the authorization to release Jack Smith’s final report regarding the case against former President Trump following the events of January 6th. This ruling was reported on abcnews.go.com.
