POLITICS
Trump's Team Sees Smith's Report, Wants It Hidden
USATue Jan 07 2025
Lawyers for Donald Trump got an early peek at a draft of special counsel Jack Smith's report. They don't like what they see and are warning that if the report is released, they'll take legal action. Two of Trump's former staffers, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, are also trying to stop the report's release. They argue that the report paints them in a bad light and could hurt their upcoming trials. They say the report is like a government verdict against them, which isn't fair.
The report was expected to be released soon, before Trump takes office again. But Trump's team says the special counsel doesn't have the right to release it because a judge previously said his appointment was illegal. They want the judge to block the release.
Attorney General Merrick Garland plans to share the report with Congress, but with some parts redacted to protect the ongoing cases. Trump's team isn't happy with how much is being redacted. They say the report has a one-sided view of the case.
The special counsel's office hasn't commented on this. Nauta and De Oliveira want an emergency hearing to stop the report's release. They say it could make their trial unfair.
The case against Trump was dropped, but Nauta and De Oliveira are still being prosecuted. The Justice Department is appealing the judge's ruling about the special counsel's appointment.
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questions
Why do Trump's attorneys believe the special counsel does not have the authority to release the report?
How does the release of the report potentially prejudice the defendants, according to their lawyers?
How does the potential prejudice to the defendants weigh against the public’s right to know?
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