By Douglas Gillison and Kanishka Singh
(Reuters) – A U.S. judge in Florida on Monday ordered former President Donald Trump’s defense attorneys not to release evidence in the classified documents case to the media or the public, a court filing said.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart’s order also placed strict conditions on Trump’s access to the documents.
“The Discovery Materials, and any information derived therefrom, shall not be released to the public or the news media, or released on any news or social media platform, without notice and consent from the States United States or court approval,” reads the order filed Monday.
He also clarified that Trump “will not retain copies” and that he may only review case materials “under the direct supervision of defense counsel or a member of the defense counsel’s staff.” defense”.
The order granted a motion filed last week by prosecutors who had asked the court to place conditions on how the defense stores and uses the documents.
Trump, who is the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was indicted on federal charges earlier this month. He was charged with illegally retaining classified government documents after leaving the White House and then conspiring to obstruct a federal investigation into the case.
Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 counts in court.
The former president faces further legal hurdles, after being charged by New York prosecutors for an alleged silent payment to a porn star.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, is also investigating Trump’s alleged role in the actions surrounding his defeat in the 2020 presidential election that culminated in the deadly attack on supporters. of Trump against the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
(Reporting by Douglas Gillison and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)