Trump receives first evidence batch in classified documents case

Former President Donald Trump received the first batch of documents from special counsel Jack Smith in the Justice Department's case against him for his handling of classified materials, court documents show. 

The filing Wednesday shows how the Justice Department is advocating for the trial to happen quickly, CNN reported. The trial is scheduled to start Aug. 14, but the judge may grant a delay if requested.

Prosecutors turned over recordings of Trump, including one in which he speaks about a classified military document, officials said.

The batch "includes the grand jury testimony of witnesses who will testify for the government at the trial of this case," according to the special counsel's office.

"Defense counsel can contact the government to arrange for inspection of unclassified items seized at Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022," the court document also stated.

Trump pleaded not guilty to the 37 charges against him and has said he should be exonerated because the grand jury in the case was not told about the Presidential Records Act or a similar case involving former President Bill Clinton.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.