“Stop Wasting Court’s Time”: Judge in Trump’s Document Case Chides Prosecutors

William FurneyOct 17, 2023

Minute Read

A judge overseeing a federal case against former president Donald Trump relating to the storage of top-secret government documents has blasted prosecutors for wasting her time.

‘Come Clean’ Request

Judge Aileen Cannon was hearing arguments from prosecutors who want Trump lawyers representing others charged under the indictment — Trump staffers — to come clean and admit they also have clients who are Trump workers because these employees could end up giving testimony against Trump and others charged in the documents case.

‘Conflict of Interest’

There was a clear conflict of interest in Trump’s lawyers representing a number of Trump staff, including those indicted in the sensitive-papers case, Prosecutor David Harbach argued in court last Thursday.

Request to Limit Trump Lawyer Arguments

Trump lawyer Stanley Woodward should not be able to cross-examine Trump staffers who aren’t involved in the documents trial, Harbach insisted, calling on the judge to reduce the amount of arguments the lawyer could make during the trial.

A Frustrated Judge

Judge Cannon, clearly frustrated by the prosecutor’s request, said what was being asked was not included in the government’s case against Trump and others over the handling of classified documents. Another hearing would be required in order to hear all the facts and make a decision, she ruled.

‘No Warning’

The federal judge said she had not received prior warning about the request; nor, she said, was she provided with case law, or former, similar court cases that could provide precedent, and so she was “disappointed” in the prosecutors.

“I do want to admonish the government for frankly wasting the court’s time,” she said.

Military Documents at Florida Mansion

The case relates to Trump storing large amounts of military and other information deemed highly confidential and that should not have been removed from the White House. Prosecutors have shown

‘Sharing Secret Information’

The former president, who is seeking re-election next year, after losing to Joe Biden in 2020, brought the secret files to his mansion in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, and shared the sensitive information with others, potentially putting US national security at risk, the indictment alleges.

Boxes of ‘Classified Files’

The indictment, unsealed in early June, includes photographs of dozens of boxes apparently containing the secret papers at Trump’s southern retreat’s ballroom, a bathroom, a storage room, a shower room, an office space, and in Trump’s bedroom.

Documents Case Co-Defendants

Walt Nauta, a personal aide to Trump during his time at the White House, and Trump property manager Carlos De Oliveira are co-defendants in the case alleging illegal retention of government documents and associated obstruction of justice.

Another Federal Battle

Editorial credit: Christian David Cooksey / Shutterstock.

It’s not the only federal case engulfing the former president. He has also been indicted on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he had repeatedly said was “stolen” and “rigged” as well as preventing the peaceful transfer of presidential power. Trump has called the case a “witch hunt” by Democratic operatives trying to stop him from returning to the White House.

May 2024 Trial Date

Indications are that the confidential documents trial will start in May next year, but with the presidential election occurring next November, there are moves by Trump lawyers to delay proceedings until after the election, mindful that there will be extensive media attention in the case that could sway some Republican voters from Trump to the Democratic candidate.

Holding Firm

Prosecutors have, however, asked the judge — a Trump appointee — to start the trial on May 20, maintaining that everything is prepared and that they had given the defense “extensive, prompt, and well-organized” material relating to the case, so there was no reason, they say, to delay.

Going for Trump ‘At Any Cost’

Prosecutors were “engaged in a reckless effort to try to obtain a conviction of President Trump prior to the 2024 Election, no matter the cost,” Trump lawyers wrote in a motion to the court to delay the trial.

Biden Campaign

President Biden is campaigning for re-election and is hoping to be the Democratic Party’s choice of candidate. But he is facing criticism, including from within his party, for deciding to seek a second term, given his advanced age and recent fumbles. Biden will be 81 in November and has stumbled on stage and on the steps of Air Force One, as well as rambling at a press conference in Vietnam before aides stepped in to end the media event.