U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, overseeing the trial involving former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents, struck down two of the Justice Department filings, including a request to leave filings under seal, according to a ruling she handed down this morning.
"The special counsel states in conclusory terms that the supplement should be sealed from public view 'to comport with grand jury secrecy,' but the motion for leave and the supplement plainly fail to satisfy the burden of establishing a sufficient legal or factual basis to warrant sealing the motion and supplement," Cannon's ruling read.
It also seeks an explanation from the prosecution as to why a Washington, D.C., grand jury was used in the Florida documents case.
"Among other topics as raised in the motion, the response shall address the legal propriety of using an out-of-district grand jury proceeding to continue to investigate and/or to seek post-indictment hearings on matters pertinent to the instant indicted matter in this district," Cannon said.
The ruling comes as Trump's legal team expects another indictment - the fourth against him - from a Georgia grand jury.