The Department of Justice has requested a protective order to limit former President Donald Trump's access to classified documents central to the Mar-a-Lago indictment. The DOJ's motion argues that these documents, which pertain to ongoing investigations, should only be viewed by Trump under the direct supervision of his legal team. The order would also prohibit Trump from keeping copies of the materials and require that any notes taken be securely stored by his counsel. This motion is currently awaiting Judge Bruce Reinhart's decision.
The former president faces 37 federal charges related to his handling of classified documents after leaving office, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, making false statements, and willful retention of national defense information. The indictment alleges that Trump knowingly kept classified materials after receiving a subpoena demanding their return, and that his actions jeopardized national security, foreign relations, military safety, and intelligence sources and methods. Trump has vehemently denied these accusations, characterizing the indictment as a politically motivated attack by the Biden administration.
