Special counsel Jack Smith says Trump aide is proposing an 'unnecessary' delay by trying to push a Friday hearing without any replacement date
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
- Jack Smith urged a federal judge to reject a Trump aide's efforts to further delay his case.
- Smith wants Judge Aileen Cannon to refuse Walt Nauta's request to delay a Friday hearing.
- Nauta's lawyers argued that they can't both be present for the hearing.
Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday urged a federal judge to reject Trump aide Walt Nauta's efforts to further delay his case related to former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents.
Smith asked Judge Aileen Cannon to refuse Nauta's request to delay a scheduled Friday hearing because one of his attorneys, will be attending an unrelated trial in Washington, D.C.
"An indefinite continuance is unnecessary, will inject additional delay in this case, and is contrary to the public interest," Smith wrote.
The special counsel and his team have at times struggled to keep the case against Nauta on track. The arraignment for Nauta, who remains employed by Trump, was delayed multiple times as Nauta struggled to find a local attorney. The Trump aide is a key part of the government's case against former President Donald Trump that alleges he obstructed efforts to obtain classified documents that he had in his possession.
The request on Nauta's behalf did not propose a new date for the hearing, only suggesting that the two sides find a time that "is mutually agreeable to all necessary counsel of record. Nauta's side also said that they need more time to obtain the necessary security clearances needed since the case deals with classified documents.
Smith was unpersuaded by either point. He suggested that Nauta's attorneys failed to give a good reason why he can't be represented by Sasha Dadan, his local Florida attorney at the hearing. Smith further said that Woodward has thus far failed to complete the necessary form required to receive an interim security clearance.
The special counsel had hoped to put Trump on trial in mid-December, but it is likely the former president will try to object to that timeframe. He and Nauta are also expected to respond to the trial timeline later today.