Judge denies efforts by Trump co-defendants to see classified material they allegedly helped conceal at Mar-a-Lago

CNN —

The judge presiding over the Mar-a-Lago documents case on Tuesday denied efforts by Donald Trump’s co-defendants to view the classified records they allegedly moved around the former president’s Florida residence for him.

The men, political aide Walt Nauta and property staffer Carlos De Oliveira, wanted to view the classified records to prepare their trial defenses against obstruction of justice charges. They are accused of helping Trump conceal documents he unlawfully kept in Florida after he left the presidency.

The decision from Southern District of Florida Judge Aileen Cannon on Tuesday night resolves a protracted battle that stood to hamper movement toward a trial, days before the judge revisits her calendar to see if Trump and the two men can be tried before summer. After several confidential hearings in her courthouse in recent weeks, including one that Trump attended, Cannon ruled in favor of the special counsel’s office, which argued De Oliveira and Nauta didn’t need to see the records that were in the boxes at Mar-a-Lago.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 22: Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, stands on stage during the 2024 NRB International Christian Media Convention Presidential Forum at The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center on February 22, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. Trump's appearance comes shortly after judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over Trump's $355 million civil fraud case in New York, denied the former president's request to delay the judgment for a month. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

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“The Court finds that the Special Counsel has met his