Judge in Trump 2020 election interference case rules records, evidence to be unsealed Friday

Judge Tanya Chutkan on Thursday denied former President Donald Trump's request to delay until after the election the unsealing of court records and exhibits in the 2020 election interference case and said the court would release evidence submitted by the government on Friday. 

In her five-page order, Chutkan said there was a presumption that there should be public access to "all facets of criminal court proceedings" and that Trump, in claiming the material should remain under seal, did not submit arguments relevant to any of the factors that would be considerations. Instead, Trump's lawyers argued that keeping it under seal for another month "will serve other interests," Chutkan wrote. "Ultimately, none of those arguments are persuasive."

She had been tasked with deciding whether the appendix and brief submitted by special counsel Jack Smith earlier this month should be made available to the public, but with certain information kept secret. Chutkan allowed the brief to be made public last week, though it included redactions of names of alleged co-conspirators, campaign staff and White House officials, as well as certain references to grand jury proceedings.