Donald Trump’s former co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, have requested an emergency order to prevent the public release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report, set to be submitted to Attorney General Merrick Garland by January 10.
The defendants filed the motion with Judge Aileen Cannon, who previously dismissed the classified documents case against Trump, ruling Smith’s appointment as Special Counsel unconstitutional. They argue the release of the report would harm their reputations, taint potential jurors, and undermine their ability to defend themselves in any future legal proceedings.
Smith’s report, expected to detail findings from his investigations into President-elect Trump, has sparked significant opposition from Trump’s legal team. They described the report as a “political stunt” and urged Garland to defer decisions about its release to Trump’s incoming Attorney General, Pam Bondi.
The defense lawyers claim that the report’s publication would violate the presumption of innocence and accuse Smith of attempting to litigate the case in the “court of public opinion.” They also allege that Smith’s efforts reflect “political motivations” aimed at disrupting Trump’s transition to office.
Legal experts note that Special Counsel reports are standard practice at the conclusion of investigations, but critics argue that this situation is uniquely politicized. The outcome of the emergency hearing could set a precedent for how politically sensitive investigations are handled during a presidential transition.
With the release date looming, the case underscores the tension between transparency, justice, and politics in one of the most contentious chapters of Trump’s legal battles.
