Media coalition seeks access  to Trump trial documents

A  media”coalition” has asked the Florida federal court handling the classified documents criminal case against former US President Donald Trump to reject the request of the Prosecutor’s Office to keep secret some materials ahead of the trial.

“The first (federal) prosecution of a former President of the United States is one of the most consequential criminal cases in the nation’s history. The interest of the American public in this matter and the need to monitor its progress every step of the way cannot be underestimated,” the petition reads.

According to the document, television channels such as CNN, ABC, Telemundo and Univision, agencies such as the Associated Press and Reuters, and written media such as The Wall Street Journal, The Miami Herald and the Los Angeles Times, among many others, are part of the coalition.

The “coalition” unsuccessfully tried to get cameras into the federal courthouse in Miami where on June 13 Trump was in court and formally charged with 37 counts of seven criminal offenses related to the discovery of one hundred classified documents at his Florida home in 2022 when he was no longer president.

Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Noting that “it is essential that there be full transparency at all stages of this landmark case,” the media say that otherwise, “public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings in particular and the judicial system, in general, will suffer.” perhaps irreversibly.”

The media request responds to a request from the Prosecutor’s Office to keep a list of people sealed – “apparently 84”, according to the coalition -, to whom Trump cannot speak directly because they are potential witnesses in the case at trial to be held in Fort Pierce (Florida) from August 14.

That is the date set in principle by Judge Aileen Cannon, although the Prosecutor’s Office has already asked to delay the start until December.

The media consider that knowing this list is important for the sake of transparency and because, otherwise, it would go against the first constitutional amendment and they ask the court to order the Prosecutor’s Office to publish that list openly.

List not trivial
The list is not something “trivial neither for the process nor for the defendant”, they point out before recounting the legal background that supports their request.

The media emphasize that Trump’s defense has not taken a “position” regarding the request of the Prosecutor’s Office to keep the list secret.

The indictment against Trump was the result of an investigation by special counsel Jack Smith, who last week informed the court of the evidence against him that he was making available to the defense.

Of the 37 charges against Trump, 31 are for knowingly withholding documents related to the defense of the United States, but he is also accused of obstructing justice and “corruptly concealing” documents or records.

Some of these crimes are punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.