A federal magistrate judge in Miami, Florida during the arraignment of Donald Trump on 37 federal criminal felony charges granted the defendant pretrial release, but ordered him to have no contact about the case with any witnesses in his Espionage Act, obstruction, and false statements case.
ABC News reports on-air in addition to ordering Trump to steer clear of discussing the case with any witnesses, the judge did allow Trump to keep his passport, and did not tell him he had any travel or firearm bans.
“There’s nobody who hasn’t been a witness,” ABC News’ Jonathan Karl reported on-air, somewhat stunned by the judge’s order, before receiving a clarification. The judge did say Trump could use his attorneys as intermediaries.
But as Karl and others noted, one witness is Trump’s co-defendant, Walt Nauta, with whom he traveled to Florida from New Jersey, and who has been on the campaign trail with Trump.
ABC News’ Katherine Faulders confirmed the reporting, stating: “Trump can’t have any contact with witnesses *about the case* and can only have contact about the case through counsel.”
ABC News adds that Trump did not speak at all during the arraignment. His attorney told the judge Trump was pleading “not guilty.” Trump appeared “irritated” that he had to be there, ABC added.
Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara told ABC News Trump’s attorneys likely will tell him to not talk to any witnesses about anything.
“Trump had his arms folded and periodically spoke to his attorney Todd Blanche while in the courtroom,” CNN’s Kaitlan Collins adds. “He pleaded not guilty, as expected. Blanche was the attorney who addressed the judge.”
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