Jack Smith and Donald Trump (AFP)
In a major development in Donald Trump’s election interference case, the federal judge overseeing the proceedings in Washington, D.C., Judge Tanya Chutkan, issued a “devastating” five-page opinion on Thursday night. report from Forbes, This ruling clears the way for the release of a highly anticipated appendix full of evidence on Friday, despite attempts by Trump to delay the release. The opinion has been hailed by legal experts, including former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance.
Judge Chutkan had previously ruled that special counsel Jack Smith’s appendix would be made public but gave Trump time to consider his legal options. On Thursday, Trump’s legal team requested a pause in the case, hoping to delay the release of the evidence until after November 14, following the election. However, late Thursday, Chutkan denied this request, delivering a sharp rebuke of Trump’s arguments.
Vance, in her newsletter Civil Discourse, praised Chutkan’s no-nonsense approach to the case, noting that the judge’s opinion was “old school” in its adherence to legal principles. Vance highlighted key aspects of Chutkan’s ruling, particularly the emphasis on the public’s right to access the full scope of criminal proceedings. “Documents should only be kept under seal where the circumstances of the case or interests of the parties outweigh the public’s—and the press’s—First Amendment rights,” Vance wrote, underscoring the judge’s commitment to transparency.
Trump’s legal team had sought to keep the appendix sealed, arguing that releasing it could taint potential jurors and mislead the public in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. However, Judge Chutkan was unconvinced, laying out six factors that courts use to determine whether evidence should remain sealed. She systematically dismissed Trump’s arguments, with Vance noting that Chutkan “swats aside” Trump’s claims that public access to the evidence could unfairly influence the case.
“Judge Chutkan has a reputation for being efficient and no-nonsense. She lives up to it here,” Vance wrote, pointing to the judge’s swift and decisive handling of the case.
With this ruling, Jack Smith’s appendix of evidence, which could play a pivotal role in the trial, is set to become public, marking a significant moment in the legal battle surrounding Trump’s alleged election interference. “Tomorrow, Jack Smith’s appendix becomes public,” Vance concluded, signaling the potential impact of the evidence once it is revealed to the public.
