A U.S. judge in Florida on Monday ordered defense lawyers for former President Donald Trump not to divulge evidence in the classified materials case to the media or the public, according to a court filing.
The order, issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, also imposed stringent restrictions on Trump’s access to the information.
“The Discovery materials, along with any information derived therefrom, shall not be disclosed to the public or the news media, or disseminated on any news or social media platform, without prior notice to and consent of the United States or approval of the Court,” the order filed on Monday said.
It also specified that Trump “shall not retain copies” and that he may only review case materials “under the direct supervision of Defense Counsel or a member of Defense Counsel’s staff.”
The judgment allowed a motion submitted by prosecutors last week, in which they urged the court to impose limitations on how the defense maintains and utilizes the materials.
Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner in 2024, was accused on federal charges earlier this month. He was charged with illegally retaining confidential government information after leaving the White House, as well as conspiring to hinder a federal investigation into the subject.
Trump has pleaded not guilty in court to all 37 counts.
He defended his handling of the boxes in an interview with Fox News on Monday, saying that he needed to go through the boxes to remove personal items including golf shirts, pants and shoes.
“Before I send boxes over, I have to take all of my things out. These boxes were interspersed with all sorts of things,” Trump said. “I was very busy, as you’ve sort of seen.”
Trump repeated his claim that the boxes contained magazine articles, personal items and art. The Justice Department told a court that the boxes contained highly classified documents, including a plan to attack Iran.
The former president faces other legal hurdles, having been indicted by New York City prosecutors in connection with an alleged hush-money payment to a porn star.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, is also probing Trump’s alleged role in actions surrounding his loss in the 2020 presidential election that culminated in Trump supporters’ deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump is also being investigated in connection with efforts to change the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in Georgia.
