The judge overseeing the criminal case against former President Donald Trump over his handling of classified documents denied a government request to file under seal a list of dozens of potential witnesses who the former president has been barred from speaking to about the case.
Special Counsel Jack Smith hasn’t provided a detailed reason to file the list under seal or explained why such a move was necessary once he provides the names to Trump’s legal team, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said in an order Monday in West Palm Beach, Florida. Still, it was unclear if the list would be made public.
The judge, a Trump appointee, said the government “does not explain why” partial sealing of the list isn’t sufficient or how long it would be necessary. She already has restricted Trump’s ability to contact prosecution witnesses in the case, except through his attorneys.
