Attorneys representing former President Donald Trump in his classified documents case have made a stunning accusation against Special Counsel Jack Smith.
The former president’s attorneys said in court to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that they believe Smith’s team has had “extensive communications” with President Joe Biden’s White House, the Department of Justice and the National Archives.
“I’ll post a story soon but some bombshell revelations: Trove of evidence includes ‘years’ worth of security footage from MAL. Evidence of ‘extensive communications’ btw White House, NARA, intel agencies and DOJ/Jack Smith prior to indictment to determine which files to include. Trump still had DOE security clearance related to at least one charged document as recently as June 2023. Defense might include Secret Service as a considered member of prosecution since they have own security apparatus separate from MAL,” American Greatness reporter Julie Kelly said.
“Judge Cannon appeared skeptical about special counsel’s assurances the March 4 trial date for DC case won’t run into May 20 trial date for classified documents case. She admonished DOJ’s Jay Bratt for his ‘level of understanding to these realities.’ She also asked for an example of DOJ bringing 2 criminal cases against same defendant in ‘compressed’ schedule while demanding trial dates 2 1/2 months apart. He had no answer,” she said.
“To emphasize: Trump’s lawyers told Judge Cannon this afternoon they have evidence that the Biden White House collaborated with NARA, DOJ, and intel agencies to determine which documents to include in Jack Smith’s indictment,” she said.
In October, Judge Aileen Cannon “postponed a hearing on whether one of Trump’s co-defendants understood that his lawyer might have conflicts of interest.”
Judge Cannon of the United States District Court reprimanded Justice Department attorney David Harbach for “wasting the court’s time” with an irrelevant legal argument.
Harbach argued that Trump’s co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira should not be allowed to hire attorneys Stanley Woodward and John Irving because several of the attorneys’ current and former clients might be called to testify against them.
In the wake of Trump’s 2020 loss to Vice President Joe Biden, Trump relocated Nauta to his Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago. Oliveira was the property manager at Trump’s Florida estate during the government’s raid that summer of 2022.
Instead of giving Nauta and Oliveira a chance to “digest and contemplate the risks” of their attorneys’ potential conflicts of interest, the hearing turned into an angry exchange.
Nauta faces six charges, including obstruction of justice conspiracy, and lying to police. Prosecutors say the Trump aide was instrumental in covering up Trump’s possession of classified documents. Oliveira is accused of assisting Trump in hiding boxes of classified documents at the Palm Beach estate from investigators.
The Palm Beach Post wrote, “Attorneys at the defense table traded glances as the judge became shorter and shorter with Harbach. He insisted that his position was ‘unremarkable’ and supported by other court decisions, though Cannon took a dim view of the three he offered her.”
When asked when the lawyers would meet again to discuss the matter, Cannon simply said, “Stay tuned.”
