Former President Donald Trump has been ordered by a magistrate judge to keep quiet about discovery material issued in a classified documents case. The order comes after special counsel Jack Smith requested that Trump and his co-defendant, Walt Nauta, be prohibited from disclosing information that was handed over to the defense in the criminal case they now face.
The order, which was signed on June 19, 2023, prohibits Trump and Nauta from “disclosing, publishing, or otherwise disseminating any discovery material” that was provided to them by the special counsel. The order also prohibits them from discussing the discovery material with anyone other than their attorneys.
The order comes after Smith argued that Trump and Nauta could use the discovery material to “discredit the special counsel’s investigation” or to “harass or intimidate witnesses.” Smith also argued that the disclosure of the discovery material could “jeopardize the integrity of the criminal case.”
Trump and Nauta have not yet commented on the order.
Former President Trump and his co-defendant have been prohibited from disclosing information from the discovery materials in their criminal case.
The order was issued by a magistrate judge and prohibits Trump and Walt Nauta from sharing any information from the discovery materials with the public, the news media, or on social media. The order does not apply to classified materials, which will be subject to their own procedures.
The order comes after special counsel Jack Smith requested that Trump and Nauta be prohibited from disclosing the discovery materials. Smith argued that the disclosure of the materials could jeopardize the integrity of the criminal case.
Trump and Nauta have not yet commented on the order.
The order is a significant development in the criminal case against Trump. It will be interesting to see how Trump and Nauta respond to the order, and whether they will attempt to challenge it.
Here are some additional details about the case:
- Trump is facing 37 counts in the indictment, which alleges that he illegally retained national defense information and that he concealed documents and obstructed the Justice Department investigation into the handling of those materials.
- Trump pleaded not guilty last week.
- The two Trump attorneys who have made appearances in the case have confirmed that they have been in contact with the Justice Department about expediting their security clearances.