Jack Smith Files Mystery Sealed Document in Donald Trump Case

In a new twist in the federal election interference case against former President Donald Trump, Special Counsel Jack Smith has submitted a mystery document, hidden from both the public and Trump’s lawyers.

The filing was made in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where Judge Tanya Chutkan is overseeing the case.

A Wednesday court notice shows that Smith filed a document titled “Government’s Classified, Ex Parte, In Camera, and Under Seal Notice Regarding Classified Discovery,” a formal way of saying the Department of Justice (DOJ) has submitted a confidential document that contains classified information in the case.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Classified: The document includes sensitive or secret information that is restricted from public access for security reasons.
• Ex Parte: This means the document was submitted by the government without notifying the defense. Only Judge Chutkan is informed, and the defense does not get to see it.
• In Camera: Judge Chutkan will review this document privately, without the presence of either party’s lawyers.
• Under Seal: The document is kept completely confidential—it cannot be accessed by the public or other parties involved in the case.

Smith’s team is prosecuting Trump on charges related to his efforts to interfere with the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Background of the Case

This latest development comes just days after Judge Chutkan granted Trump’s request to waive his presence at an upcoming arraignment following a new indictment in the same case.

Trump’s attorneys are scheduled to enter a plea of not guilty on his behalf during a status conference today.

The indictment comes after the July 1 Supreme Court ruling that refined the boundaries of presidential immunity, leading to Smith revising the original indictment against Trump.

The revised indictment narrows its focus to Trump’s actions as a private citizen, rather than official acts performed during his presidency. Trump, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and described the prosecutions against him as politically motivated, faces four counts of criminal charges for allegedly attempting to undermine the legitimate results of the 2020 election, including in his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly.