Special Counsel Durham Can Keep Witness List for Danchenko Trial Secret: Judge

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Special counsel John Durham can keep a list of witnesses he plans to call in an upcoming trial secret, a judge ruled on Oct. 7.

U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga, a George W. Bush appointee, approved a motion from Durham’s team.

The witness list will be sealed and remain under seal until further order from the court, Trenga said.

Durham’s prosecution of Igor Danchenko, a key source for the anti-Donald Trump dossier compiled on behalf of Democrats ahead of the 2016 presidential election, is set to start on Oct. 11.

Michael Keilty, an assistant special counsel, asked the court on Oct. 7 to seal the list.

“Given that this case has garnered significant media attention, the government is concerned about the potential harassment of its witnesses should they be identified this far in advance of trial,” Keilty wrote.

Prosecutors plan to publicly file the list, which they provided to Danchenko’s lawyers, on Oct. 10, Keilty said.

Defense lawyers didn’t object to the proposal, he noted.

The filing cited rulings in other cases that sealed witness lists. In one, re Knight Pub. Co., the court wrote that a trial court “has supervisory power over its own records and may, in its discretion, seal documents if the public’s right of access is outweighed by competing interests.”

Prosecutors haven’t shed much light on potential witnesses in court filings. They did say that they wanted to call Bernd Kuhlen, a German citizen who was a manager at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Moscow in 2016, while discussing Danchenko’s shifting statements regarding the claim that Trump, while staying at the hotel, made a degenerate request of hookers.

But Trenga denied the request, noting that none of the charges against Danchenko relate to the so-called pee tape.

Danchenko allegedly lied five times to FBI agents during interviews and was charged in 2021. The statements relate to his sourcing of information from Charles Dolan, a longtime Clinton family associate, and his alleged interactions with Sergei Millian, a businessman who used to be president of the Russian–American Chamber of Commerce.

By Zachary Stieber

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

All Apologies For the Culture War Slop

"Forgive me for ignoring the elite-driven political/economic excesses, focusing instead on divisive culture war slop."

Rising sea levels are less of a threat than we were told

New study challenges climate alarmism: sea levels aren't rising faster than the past century, despite dire warnings of floods and mass migrations.

President Trump is Being Wrongfully Obstructed on Tariffs

Podcaster Zach De Gregorio, in “Wolves And Finance,” delivers a sharp editorial unpacking the truth behind Trump’s international tariff policies.

Trump And Kennedy Are Placing Patients First

Trump admin set rules requiring hospitals and insurers to give patients clear price info, aiming to boost transparency and put patients first.

Figures flip the field

Sports programs with strong donor bases and NIL collectives are flipping recruits and transfers at rapid speed, like traders on Wall Street.

Appeals Court Upholds $83 Million Ruling Against Trump

A federal appeals court upheld a jury ruling ordering Trump to pay columnist E. Jean Carroll $83.3M in damages for defaming her.

Video Shows Fatal Stabbing of Ukraine War Refugee: What to Know

Video shows moments before Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was killed on a Charlotte light rail, raising new concerns over crime and public safety.

Border Czar Says ICE Will Target More Businesses After Enforcement Operation at Hyundai

Trump administration to expand immigration enforcement, targeting more businesses after detaining hundreds at a Georgia Hyundai plant.

Education Department to Issue Guidance Protecting Right to Prayer, Trump Says

President Donald Trump on Sept. 8 announced that the Department of Education will issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer.

Trump Runs out of Patience With China, Sharpens His Words

President Donald Trump’s recent remarks targeting China and its allies mark a noticeable shift in tone.

Trump Signs Order Renaming Department of Defense as Department of War

President Donald Trump on Sept. 5 signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War.

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Countries That Unlawfully Detain Americans

President Trump signed an EO on targeting the unlawful detention of American citizens around the world and to facilitate the release of hostages.

Trump Sends Warning to Venezuela After US Military Strikes Boat Allegedly Carrying Drugs

President Trump sent a warning to Venezuela after the U.S. military struck what the administration says was a boat carrying drugs in the Caribbean.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central