Florida judge to hold closed-door hearing in Trump's classified documents case

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The federal judge hearing former President Donald Trump's classified documents case said she will hold a closed-door hearing to discuss the special counsel's request to protect the secret documents connected to the case.

Judge Aileen Cannon said the sealed hearing "will take place at a designated time and place to discuss sensitive, security-related issues concerning classified discovery." Cannon did not disclose when and where that hearing will happen.

Cannon, a Trump appointee, said the ex-president and his co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira will not have to attend the hearing, leaving the work to their lawyers.

Trump faces charges in U.S. District Court in Florida pertaining to retaining classified government records after leaving the White House and trying to cover up the fact that he was keeping those documents in boxes at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach.

Cannon's decision comes after the prosecutor's request for the protective order had already been filed publicly.

Trump and special counsel Jack Smith have sparred over the proposed rules on whether Trump can talk with his attorneys about classified evidence given to the defense. The former president said he wants to create a secure facility at his residence that he used while he was president to hold such discussions.

Smith pushed back, saying that having Mar-a-Lago serve such a dual purpose would be unprecedented and unworkable.