A federal judge overseeing the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump has granted a request by prosecutors to safeguard the identities of potential government witnesses. The judge, however, declined to completely block witness statements from being disclosed, citing the lack of a basis for such a broad restriction.
The 24-page order addresses a dispute between special counsel's team and Trump's lawyers regarding the public disclosure of information about witnesses and their statements before trial. The disagreement had caused delays in the case, which is one of four prosecutions facing Trump.
While a firm trial date is yet to be set, both sides have indicated they could be ready for trial this summer. The judge, who had previously faced criticism for granting Trump's request for an independent arbiter to review documents seized during an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, expressed skepticism about the government's prosecution theory, calling the case's questions 'still-developing and somewhat muddled.'
In a move that likely prevented further tensions with the special counsel's team, the judge sided with prosecutors in protecting witness identities. This decision came after the defense filed a motion seeking to obtain documents that they claimed would support their argument that the Biden administration had politicized the case against Trump.
While the judge agreed for witness names to remain redacted, she rejected a request to seal the substance of all witness statements from pretrial motions, except for information that could identify witnesses. She noted that such a sweeping request lacked legal precedent and was unprecedented.
The case continues to evolve, with both sides preparing for a potential trial in the coming months. The judge's rulings aim to balance the need for transparency with the protection of witness identities in this high-profile legal battle.
