House Democrats are calling on Attorney General Merrick Garland to release special counsel Jack Smith’s full report on Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents. In a letter to Garland, the Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee emphasized the public’s right to access the findings and argued that charges against Trump’s former co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, should be dropped to facilitate transparency.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon had previously allowed the release of the first volume of Smith’s report, which focuses on Trump’s election interference case. However, Cannon has temporarily blocked the release of the second volume, which covers the classified documents, due to the ongoing prosecution of Nauta and De Oliveira. The Democrats warned that if these charges remain active, the report could remain hidden for years, making it essential to take immediate action.
In their letter, the lawmakers, led by ranking member Jamie Raskin, argued that the practical impact of keeping the charges in place would delay transparency and prevent the American people from fully understanding the contents of the report. They urged Garland to prioritize transparency over protecting the defendants, emphasizing that allowing the public to access the full report aligns with the broader interests of justice.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the retention of classified materials and attempts to overturn the 2020 election, could use the outcome of these charges to bury the report, the Democrats warned. The request for full disclosure comes as Trump prepares to take office again, raising concerns that the report may never see the light of day if left in the hands of his administration.
This development marks another critical moment in the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump and highlights the tension between justice, transparency, and political influence in Washington.
