Former President Donald Trump and his lawyers were ordered on June 19 not to share evidence in Trump’s criminal case with any people not involved in the case.
Trump, co-defendant Waltine Nauta, and their attorneys must not disclose the discovery materials to the public or news media, nor post them on any “news or social media platform,” without the consent of the U.S. government or approval of the court, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart said in the order.
Following the charges against Trump and Nauta of multiple crimes, including concealing documents, government officials are preparing to hand over discovery materials to the defendants and their representatives.
The materials will include testimony given by witnesses to the grand jury that approved the charges and other evidence prosecutors plan to present at trial.
The order from Reinhart, who was appointed by other judges and has criticized Trump on social media, comes in response to a request for such an order from prosecutors.
The government said it was ready to provide unclassified materials to the defense, but that the disclosure of information could compromise ongoing investigations and make public the identity of people who haven’t been charged.
“As a result, the government proposes protections against the dissemination of discovery materials and the sensitive information that they contain,” special counsel Jack Smith said in the request.
Lawyers for Trump and Nauta didn’t oppose the motion, according to Smith. The lawyers didn’t respond to requests for comment.
More on Order
While Reinhart said that he may authorize the disclosure of information to certain people, lawyers for the defendants must take steps before disclosing information.
Once a person is authorized to receive the information, the lawyers must give the person a copy of the June 19 order and the person must sign an agreement to not disseminate the materials he or she receives, Reinhart said.
The lawyers must keep a copy of each signed agreement.
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