Trump Tries to Block Publication of Prosecutor Smith’s Report on Classified Documents
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January 7, 2025 Hour: 9:04 am
His lawyers sent a letter to Attorney General Garland to prevent the report from being released before January 20.
On Monday night, Donald Trump’s lawyers requested that the Department of Justice block the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report regarding the improper handling of classified documents in 2021.
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Lawyers for Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira asked Judge Aileen Cannon to prevent the publication of the report, which was expected to be released before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Both men, who worked for Trump and pleaded not guilty to charges related to obstruction, argue that Smith lacks the authority to release the report because the case had already been dismissed by Cannon, who had ruled that Smith’s appointment was illegal.
The Department of Justice had charged Trump in Florida over the mishandling of classified documents following his presidency. Cannon dismissed the case in July, and later, an appeals court threw out the case against Trump.
The attorneys asked the judge to hold a hearing and issue a response to their motion before Friday. Additionally, Trump’s legal team sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland with the same request to prevent Smith from releasing the document.
Trump’s lawyers stated they had reviewed a draft of the report over the weekend, which they described as a “politically motivated attack” by the special counsel against Trump. They also called on Garland to remove Smith from his position.
Justice Department regulations require the special counsel’s office to submit a confidential report to Garland, who has the discretion to decide whether to make it public.
Meanwhile, on Monday, a state judge in Manhattan rejected Trump’s latest attempt to delay his sentencing on 34 felony charges, keeping the hearing scheduled for Friday.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
