Judge Aileen Cannon Rejects Request From Special Counsel Jack Smith In Classified Documents Case

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued her first “smackdown” of special counsel Jack Smith in Donald Trump’s classified documents case.

Cannon rejected a request from Smith to keep secret a list of 84 potential witnesses in the weaponized prosecution of Trump.

American Greatness contributor Julie Kelly shared details of the rejected request.

“PAPERLESS ORDER denying without prejudice Government’s Motion to Implement Special Condition of Release. The Government seeks an order implementing a special condition of bond related to Defendants’ (Trump and Nauta) communication with eighty-four listed witnesses about the facts of the case, except through counsel,” Kelly wrote.

“The Government’s Motion does not explain why filing the list with the Court is necessary; it does not offer a particularized basis to justify sealing the list from public view; it does not explain why partial sealing, redaction, or means other than sealing are unavailable or unsatisfactory; and it does not specify the duration of any proposed seal,” Kelly added.

BREAKING: This is why they want to get rid of Judge Aileen Cannon in classified docs case. Her first smackdown of Special Counsel Jack Smith:

"PAPERLESS ORDER denying without prejudice Government's Motion to Implement Special Condition of Release. The Government seeks an order…

— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) June 26, 2023

“Smith is not only attempting to keep this case under seal from the American people but impose absurd restrictions on the former president and Walt Nauta as to how evidence can be viewed. Cannon denies Smith’s demand to prevent Trump and Nauta to communicate with at least 84 WITNESSES,” Kelly added.

Smith is not only attempting to keep this case under seal from the American people but impose absurd restrictions on the former president and Walt Nauta as to how evidence can be viewed. Cannon denies Smith's demand to prevent Trump and Nauta to communicate with at least 84… pic.twitter.com/AiARrU38KR

— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) June 26, 2023

NBC News reports:

Federal prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, to keep under seal a list of witnesses who Trump is barred from communicating with directly about the case.

In her order, Cannon said prosecutors failed to explain why it was necessary to keep the names under wraps, or why redacting or partially sealing the document would be inadequate.

NBC News has reached out to the special counsel’s office and Justice Department for comment. Trump attorney Todd Blanche declined to comment on the order.

Lawyers for Trump took “no position” on Smith’s motion but reserved the right to object to aspects of it, such as implementation, according to Cannon’s order.

At Trump’s arraignment this month, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman ordered Trump to sign a bond prohibiting him from speaking to certain witnesses, except through his attorneys. Goodman also asked Smith’s team to provide a list of the witnesses Trump would be barred from communicating with directly.

In a filing Friday, the government said it had provided Trump’s attorneys with the list, and asked that the former president and Walt Nauta, a Trump aide and alleged co-conspirator in the case, sign an acknowledgement that they had received the list.

This is the order Jack Smith wanted the former president to sign pic.twitter.com/wIB77LU4dr

— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) June 26, 2023

In a separate order, Cannon set a July 14th hearing date to discuss how classified materials will be handled in the case.