In a recent development in the classified documents case involving former President Donald Trump, U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon expressed skepticism about dropping charges against Trump’s two co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. The defense attorneys argued that the charges against their clients should be dismissed due to lack of evidence showing awareness of an ongoing investigation or knowledge of the classified nature of the documents. However, Judge Cannon seemed to indicate that these arguments would be more suitable for the trial rather than for dismissal.
During the two-hour hearing, Judge Cannon probed both sides with pointed questions about case precedent and evidence, suggesting that the defense attorneys could present their arguments in front of a jury. The motions filed by Nauta and De Oliveira seek to dismiss the case based on the argument that the facts laid out in the indictment do not support the charges brought against them. The prosecutors, on the other hand, maintained that they only need to demonstrate that the defendants were aware of an investigation, not the specifics or demands of a subpoena. Judge Cannon, who was nominated by Trump in late 2020, has yet to issue a ruling on the matter, leaving uncertainty about the timing of the trial and the involvement of the former president in the proceedings.
