"Special Counsel Challenges Trump's Privatization of Classified Documents in Federal Prosecution"

Special counsel Jack Smith urged the judge overseeing Donald Trump's classified documents case to reject the idea that Trump could claim personal ownership over the materials, arguing that it is "pure fiction" and "meritless." Smith's office presented evidence, including communications with Trump's team and the conservative group Judicial Watch, to counter the notion that the documents were personal rather than presidential. The special counsel's filing also highlighted hypothetical jury instructions that they deemed incorrect, and suggested seeking relief from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals if the judge continued to entertain such interpretations of the Presidential Records Act. Trump's trial is currently scheduled for May 20, but a delay is expected.