Special Counsel Jack Smith had requested that the judge deny President Trump’s co-defendants access to the sensitive documents they are accused of concealing at Mar-a-Lago.
With Trump's attorneys and Smith's team in discussions regarding how the sensitive materials related to the case should be handled during the proceedings, Judge Aileen Cannon, who oversees the classified documents trial, has held numerous discussions under the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA).
Nauta and De Oliveira are accused of moving around records in boxes at Mar-a-Lago, and Smith's office had previously filed a motion asking the judge to refuse their request to view the records, arguing that doing so was not necessary for their defense.
In response, Cannon has agreed with Smith after concluding that he had “carried his burden” to withhold the materials from Nauta and De Oliveira.
The judge also ruled that Nauta and De Oliveira had failed to explain why having access to the classified documents would help to counter the claim that they had conspired to help Trump keep the sensitive documents, allegedly trying to conceal the sensitive documents from a federal grand jury.
Cannon will soon make a decision on a similar request brought by Trump's legal team, who are requesting they have access to a smaller batch of sensitive materials. Due to concerns of national security, Smith's team argued against the motion.
On March 1, Cannon is scheduled to hold a scheduling conference to confirm or defer the start of the classified documents trial, currently set for May 20.
