Judge Tanya Chutkan on Thursday denied former President Donald Trump’s request to delay the release of court records and evidence in the 2020 election interference case until after the election, and the court said Friday it would release evidence submitted by the government. said.
In his five-page order, Chutkan said there was a presumption that there should be public access to “all aspects of the criminal justice process,” and that President Trump argued that the materials should be sealed, and that It also stated that it had not submitted any relevant claims. Factors to consider. Rather, Trump’s lawyers argued that keeping it sealed for another month “serves other interests,” Chutkan wrote. “Ultimately, none of these arguments are convincing.”
She was tasked with deciding on the appendices and synopsis. Filed by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith It should be available to the public early this month, but certain information will be kept secret. Last week, Mr. Chutkan authorized the release of the brief, which included redacted names of alleged co-conspirators, campaign staff and White House officials, and some references to grand jury proceedings. It was included.
Shortly after President Trump announced his opposition to any additional information disclosure, Chutkan granted Smith’s request to submit the proposed amendments as an attachment to the public document. But she also accepted President Trump’s request to put her decision on hold for seven days while she considered further litigation options.
The special counsel noted that many of the appendices contain confidential information that should be made available to the public. The evidence is be subject to a protection order The documents released at the start of the case last year likely include transcripts of grand jury testimony and FBI interviews.
Mr Trump’s lawyers said in their filing that Mr Chutkan should not be allowed to release any additional information at this time, stating in their filing that “the asymmetric release of charges and related documents during early voting constitutes election interference. “It creates a worrying appearance.”
Chutkan denied that this was an “asymmetric release,” noting that courts have not “restricted public access to just one side,” and that President Trump was “ready to present any legal arguments or facts regarding immunity.” You can do it freely.” By the deadline of November 7, 2024. ”
He also said it was President Trump’s claims, not the court’s actions, that risked interference in the election.
“If a court withholds information to which the public has a right to access solely because of the potential political impact of its release, that withholding itself may amount to, or appear to constitute, election interference,” Chutkan said. “There is,” he said. “Courts will therefore continue to exclude political considerations from decision-making, rather than incorporating them as a defendant’s request.”
In a separate order Friday, he said the court would place an appendix containing Smith’s proposed redactions into the public record.
The procedure for the lawsuit against Trump is Returns in August After the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents entitled to some degree of immunity From criminal charges stemming from official acts they committed while in the White House.
prosecutor asked for new charges It called on Trump to abide by the high court’s decision, which included more specific charges and removed references to meetings with Justice Department officials. The court’s conservative majority ruled that such exchanges were off-limits for prosecutors.
Mr Trump is Initial charge In August 2023, Smith was indicted on four counts stemming from what he claimed was a plot to disrupt the transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election. The former president faces the same four charges in the new indictment, and has maintained his innocence.
The two countries are currently debating whether the acts alleged in the simplified indictment are protected by presidential immunity, and the final decision will be made by President Chutkhan. Trump’s lawyer said he would do so again. ask to have The entire case was dismissed on grounds such as presidential immunity.
Robert Legare and Melissa Quinn contributed to this report.
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