Trump's Classified Documents Case Judge Gets Heated in Exchange with Prosecutor

On a dramatic Wednesday, May 22, in Florida, the judge presiding over the case of former President Donald J. Trump's classified documents became embroiled in a heated dispute with a federal prosecutor. The altercation shed light on the intensifying complexity of the legal proceedings.

The focal point of the altercation revolved around an unproven claim made by Mr. Trump's legal team. They asserted that during the initial phase of the investigation, prosecutors attempted to compel one of the co-defendants to collaborate against the former president by threatening his attorney. During the hearing, prosecutor David Harbach vehemently refuted the allegation, prompting Judge Aileen M. Cannon to press for further elucidation.

A Contentious Meeting

The crux of the disagreement centered on a meeting that took place almost two years ago at the Justice Department. According to a lawyer representing the co-defendant, Walt Nauta, prosecutors insinuated that they could impede his pursuit of a judgeship unless he persuaded Mr. Nauta to incriminate Mr. Trump. "The narrative about the events at that meeting is purely fictional," Mr. Harbach emphatically proclaimed to Judge Cannon. "It simply did not occur."