Trump's classified docs judge backs special counsel bid to keep sensitive materials from his lawyers

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday blacked special counsel Jack Smith's effort to limit access to certain sensitive materials by former President Donald Trump's attorneys.

Smith has charged Trump over his alleged mishandling of classified materials, claiming he violated the Espionage Act by taking sensitive materials with him and retaining documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. He has pleaded not guilty and sought to dismiss the case, though Cannon rejected that request earlier this month.

Prosecutors had sought to redact and/or summarize some relevant materials during the discovery process before handing them over to Trump's attorneys under the Classified Information Procedures Act. Cannon's order largely approved Smith's request, albeit with some limitations, The Hill reported. Cannon's order will apply to certain after-action reports and materials related to potential witness, though two intelligence reports at issue will be the subject of a later hearing.

"No classified information not already agreed to be released by the Special Counsel shall be disseminated as a result of this unclassified Order," Cannon also wrote.

The trial is scheduled for May. Trump faces a separate case in D.C. from Smith over his election challenges, which has been postponed indefinitely while the Supreme Court weighs his claims of presidential immunity. Next month, he is expected to face trial in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case.

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith in November of 2022 to handle the case, which first attracted public attention after an Aug. 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.