In a recent development, former President Donald Trump has once again requested a judge to dismiss the case involving classified documents. Trump’s defense lawyers argued that investigators mishandled evidence by sorting through boxes of documents gathered during the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago in 2022.
This motion, filed late Monday, raises concerns that the Justice Department tampered with evidence beneficial to Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith’s team admitted in court that some documents were out of order, with prosecutors acknowledging discrepancies between the physical boxes and scanned contents.
Trump’s defense team claimed that classified documents were found mixed with the former president’s personal belongings, raising doubts about Trump’s awareness of their presence. They alleged that investigators neglected to maintain the order of documents, suggesting a lack of professionalism in handling the case.
If the judge, Aileen Cannon, denies the request to dismiss the charges, Trump’s attorneys have asked for the exclusion of evidence obtained during the search. Cannon has yet to rule on other motions to dismiss the case involving Trump and his co-defendants, who have all pleaded not guilty.
Following reports of disorganized documents, Republicans in Congress have also expressed concerns. Prosecutors defended their actions, stating that a third-party review of the seized materials may have contributed to the disorder. The Trump team countered with claims that the FBI’s filter team failed to preserve the original order of documents.
In response to the latest filing, Smith’s office refuted allegations of misconduct, asserting that prosecutors fulfilled their legal obligations. The defense attorneys also received an extension to disclose potential expert witnesses for the trial, with a deadline set for July 8.
The case continues to unfold as both sides present their arguments in court.
