DOJ had already dropped the case against Trump. Now a federal appeals court has formally dismissed the remainder of that case against Trump's valet Walt Nauta and property manager Carlos De Oliveira.
The classified documents trial had been scheduled to begin May 20. But months of delays had slowed the case as prosecutors pushed for the trial to begin before the November presidential election
The former president's lawyers cited the Presidential Records Act in asking that the government's case be dismissed. Judge Aileen Cannon denied the motion — clearing the way for it to proceed.
Former President Donald Trump was in court in Florida where he's seeking dismissal of criminal charges related to classified documents he allegedly withheld and concealed from investigators.
In a hearing before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, prosecutors said they want the trial to begin in July. Trump's lawyers want to postpone it until next year, after the presidential election.
Stanley Woodward represents aide Walt Nauta and once represented another Trump employee who is now cooperating with the government. Federal prosecutors had argued there was a conflict of interest.
A new defendant was also added the indictment against Trump and his aide Walt Nauta. Carlos de Oliveira was added to the obstruction conspiracy charged in the original indictment.
Judge Aileen Cannon was appointed to the bench by Trump in 2020. She ruled in favor of Trump's request to appoint a special master to review documents seized by the FBI in Florida last summer.
The former president has been indicted on seven counts, including willful retention of information related to national defense and at least one false statements charge, a source tells NPR.
Trump's legal team argued that the lower court lacked the authority to grant an appeal, which allowed the Justice Department to continue its investigation without supervision from a special master.
Dearie, 78, a former chief judge of the federal court in the Eastern District of New York, was one of the special master candidates suggested by Trump whom the Justice Department did not object to.
The sides disagree on whether there should be a special master at all, and how the document review actually should work. Former U.S. attorney Chuck Rosenberg discusses their possible considerations.
