US judge bars Trump, defense team from sharing evidence in documents case

Miami, Jun 19 (EFE).- A federal judge in Miami on Monday prohibited former President Donald Trump and his defense attorneys from sharing with people outside the defense team any evidence provided to them – and “any information derived therefrom” – regarding the criminal charges facing the ex-president for retaining classified documents after he left office in 2021.

Judge Bruce E. Reinhart issued a protective order prohibiting Trump from having access to discovery evidence in the case without a lawyer present and from sharing that information with the public or media outlets.

The protective order also applies to Waltine “Walt” Nauta, Trump’s valet, who also has been charged in the 38-count indictment.

The two men appeared in a Miami federal court last Tuesday, with Trump pleading not guilty to 37 charges alleging he kept national defense documents after he left office and conspired to obstruct justice by hiding them.

Nauta, on the other hand, was given permission to hire a second attorney for his legal team before being required to enter a plea.

The two men may only have access to either classified or non-classified discovery evidence under the direct supervision of a defense attorney or a member of a defense attorney’s staff and they may not retain copies of the material, according to Reinhart’s ruling.

The judge also said that the evidence may only be used by the defendants and their defense teams in connection with their defense in this case and for no other purpose.

An earlier ruling by another judge last Tuesday when the charges were presented to Trump in court barred him from discussing the case with witnesses or potential witnesses, including Nauta.

Trump has denied all the charges in the case.

Reinhart said in his ruling that any knowing violation of his order by the defendants, members of their legal team or other persons authorized to view the discovery documents could result in contempt of court or other civil or criminal sanctions against them.

EFE –/bp