The federal judge presiding over Donald Trump's classified document hoarding case expressed skepticism when two of former president's co-defendants in the case sought to have charges thrown out.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday appeared unwilling to bend to defense attorneys' attempts to nix the charges lodged against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira — who remain under Trump's employ — arguing the obstruction indictment was weak on evidence to their understanding of an ongoing investigation or and that there is baseless proof they were even aware of what were inside the stacks of banker boxes brought from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, The Washington Post reported.
Special Prosecutor Jack Smith's team countered that their indictment was robust and at this stage they weren't required to put forward more evidence.
ALSO READ: 15 worthless things Trump will give you for your money
Cannon appeared to agree.
“So why wouldn’t that be a trial argument?” Cannon asked more than once of the defense attorney.
Nauta and De Oliveira were charged by the feds for conspiring with Trump to obstruct and prevent officials’ attempts to retrieve the classified documents Trump commandeered as his own when he left office after losing the 2020 election.
The hearing lasted two hours, according to The Post, and Cannon, who was appointed by Trump in 2020, fired off some questions to the prosecutors as well.
Cannon didn't suggest how she would rule on the motion.
While Cannon mulls over the dismissal motions, the judge is also weighing in on a variety of pretrial proceedings that are stalling the case from solidifying a trial date.
Trump faces 40 charges in the case, including 32 charges for allegedly violating a portion of the Espionage Act.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, as have the other defendants.
