Special counsel Jack Smith's obstruction case in the classified documents prosecution has passed an initial hurdle, as a federal judge recently denied several attempts by Donald Trump's co-defendants to have charges dismissed against them.
Judge Aileen Cannon made the decision to reject the efforts of Trump's co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, to have the obstruction charges they were facing dismissed. Nauta serves as Trump's personal valet, while De Oliveira has been employed as a property manager at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
With Cannon's 8-page ruling, the obstruction charges against Nauta and De Oliveira will proceed to trial.
However, the judge in Florida has yet to rule on several motions filed by Trump himself to have charges dropped against him. These charges relate to the alleged mishandling of classified documents and attempts to impede the Justice Department's investigation.
All three men, including Trump, have maintained their innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
