The judge in former President Donald Trump's federal election interference case has ordered the release of more documents from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the former president, just weeks before the 2024 election.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the release of additional documents Thursday night.
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Former President Donald Trump (left) and Special Counsel Jack Smith. (Getty Images)
The documents concern an appendix of evidence in a dispute over whether Trump has the level of presidential immunity that would invalidate the charges against him.
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In his order, Chutkan cited President Trump's assertion that “the asymmetric release of the accusations and related documents during early voting creates an alarming appearance of election interference.” Quoted.
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A courtroom sketch depicts former President Donald Trump's legal representatives appearing before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (William J. Hennessy Jr.)
According to the judge, while there is a public interest in the court avoiding interference with elections, “in reality, the relief sought by the defendants risks harming that public interest.”
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Former President Donald Trump's team criticized the release of documents before the election. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“When a court withholds information to which the public has a right to access solely because of the potential political consequences of its release, that withholding itself may amount to, or appear to constitute, election interference.” she insisted.
He added that despite requests from the defense, the court will continue to keep political considerations out of its decisions.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith has been appointed special counsel in the investigation of former President Donald Trump. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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“The debate about 'what needs to happen before the election or what shouldn't happen before the election' is not relevant here,” Chutkan wrote.
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