Judge in Trump case asks lawyers to ‘expedite’ security clearances

Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday issued her first order in former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case since the ex-president’s day in federal court Tuesday.

Cannon ordered all attorneys involved in the case to expedite the process of obtaining national security clearances.

Trump faces 37 charges related to mishandling classified documents, taking White House materials after leaving office to his Florida home and social club, Mara-a-Lago, and his golf club in New Jersey, Bedminster.

Since the case is related to classified documents, lawyers involved in the case need permission to work with the material.

Cannon asked that “all attorneys and prospective attorneys contact the U.S. Department of Justice’s Litigation Security Group, if they have not already done so, to expedite the necessary approval process for all team members expected to participate in this case.” .’

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump (left) must start the process to get a security clearance under a Thursday order from Trump-appointed judge hearing the case, Judge Aileen Cannon (right)

She gave the attorneys a Friday deadline to contact the DOJ’s Litigation Security Group — and they must file a notice no later than Tuesday saying they complied with the court order.

The move indicated that Cannon, at least for now, was not dragging the case on.

It also indicated that she had no plans to withdraw from the case.

Trump critics expressed displeasure when she was assigned the Mar-a-Lago documents case, as she has already ruled in favor of the former president.

In September, she granted a request from Trump’s team to assign the case to a “special master” to review documents the FBI found at the ex-president’s club in Florida.

“Due to Plaintiff’s former position as President of the United States, the stigma associated with the seizure of the subject matter is in a league of its own,” Cannon said in her ruling last year.

“A future charge, based to any extent on property that would have to be returned, would result in reputational damage of a distinctly different magnitude,” she added.

An image of some of the classified documents found in Trump’s possession during the Mar-a-Lago raid in August

That decision was later rebuked by a panel of three judges on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, some of whom were also nominated by Trump.

In the documents case, Trump is represented by Todd Blanche and Christopher Kise.

The ex-president tried to hire a local Florida attorney to join his legal team ahead of Tuesday’s federal court appearance in Miami, but failed to find one in time.

Kise is the former Florida Attorney General who was appointed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who was a Republican at the time. More recently, Crist was the Democratic challenger to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his 2022 reelection bid.

Hired in the weeks following the Mar-a-Lago raid last August, Kise received $3 million from Trump’s PAC for legal work. Politico reported that in September.

Kise also represents Trump in the Jan. 6 federal investigation, which is also being handled by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Blanche is a former federal prosecutor who also represents Trump in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.

Trump was indicted in that case on state charges in late March and now faces federal charges for mishandling classified documents.