ATLANTA — The choose overseeing the election interference case towards former President Donald Trump and others in Georgia issued an order Thursday prohibiting the disclosure of sure proof.

The ruling got here after media shops this week printed content material and printed clips of interviews 4 defendants performed with prosecutors as a part of plea offers.

Fulton County Superior Court docket Decide Scott McAfee wrote that permitting events the “unfettered skill” to publicly share pretrial supplies undermines the invention course of, throughout which attorneys on each side share proof. “Potential jurors needs to be restricted of their publicity to materials that may be deemed inadmissible at trial,” McAfee wrote.

“The potential for hurt on this case is excessive, as intense media protection ensures extensive dissemination of any discovery supplies disclosed,” McAfee wrote.

Fulton County District Lawyer Fannie Willis had initially requested an order prohibiting disclosure of any of the proof shared with the protection. However prosecutors advised the choose throughout a distant listening to on Wednesday that they agreed to a extra targeted order proposed by one of many defendants.

A lawyer for a coalition of media shops, together with The Related Press, argued in the course of the listening to towards any protecting order, saying such a transfer would require exhibiting a big menace of bodily or financial hurt to the witness — and that that burden was not met.

Trump and 18 different folks had been charged in August with taking part in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally attempt to preserve the then-Republican president in energy after his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. 4 folks pleaded responsible after reaching plea offers with prosecutors. The remaining 15 pleaded not responsible. No trial date has been set.

McAfee’s order requires prosecutors to assessment their discovery and classify something they imagine shouldn’t be disclosed as “delicate materials.” Defendants may have 14 days after receiving discovery to problem this classification. If the 2 sides can not agree on whether or not it’s acceptable, a choose will determine. The proof won’t be launched till he’s sentenced.

The protecting order doesn’t apply to publicly out there info or information that defendants in any other case get hold of or which have been submitted or obtained as proof in different judicial proceedings.

Protection legal professional Jonathan Miller, who represents former Espresso County Elections Director Misty Hampton, advised the choose he launched the movies of the interviews to a media outlet, however didn’t determine them. The Washington Submit and ABC Information reported the movies on Monday.

The interviews, known as proffers, gave a glimpse into the kind of testimony that may very well be given at trial by the 4 individuals who pleaded responsible: attorneys Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, and Jenna Ellis, and bail bondsman and Trump supporter Scott Corridor.