Trump audio latest: Trump fumes about leaked CNN recording of him boasting about

The Donald Trump-appointed judge overseeing his federal criminal case has denied Special counsel Jack Smith’s request to keep the witness list sealed.

Federal prosecutors had asked US District Judge Aileen Cannon to keep a list of 84 potential witnesses in the former president’s high-profile case into his handling of classified documents on leaving the White House.

Mr Trump is barred from communicating with the people on the witness list about the case.

In a court ruling on Monday, Judge Cannon denied the request, saying that federal prosecutors had failed to explain why the names needed to be kept under seal.

While Mr Trump’s attorneys did not take a stance on the matter, a coalition of news organisation had argued that the witness list be publicly released due to the “public and historical interest” in the case.

Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Monday night to fume over the leaked tape where he is heard discussing “secret” documents.

In the audio, released by CNN, the former president is heard apparently bragging to associates about possessing still-classified military documents related to Iran.

“These are the papers,” Mr Trump says at one point, refering to a military document concerning Iran. “This was done by the military and given to me.”

The former president reacted to the release on Truth Social, railing against “Deranged Special Prosecutor” Jack Smith and baselessly accusing the DOJ and FBI of leaking the audio.

“The Deranged Special Prosecutor, Jack Smith, working in conjunction with the DOJ & FBI, illegally leaked and “spun” a tape and transcript of me which is actually an exoneration, rather than what they would have you believe. This continuing Witch Hunt is another ELECTION INTERFERENCE Scam. They are cheaters and thugs!” he wrote.

Former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie is ready for any jabs at his appearance which Donald Trump may aim at him on the debate stage.

That was the message he sent this weekend when asked about the issue on Fox News’s MediaBuzz, quipping to host Howard Kurtz that Mr Trump was no “Adonis”. Mr Trump has made a handful of references to the governor’s weight since the launch of the latter’s campaign, including by posting a photoshopped image of Mr Christie onstage with a buffet of food poorly edited into the frame.

“Oh, like he’s some Adonis?” Mr Christie said to Kurtz, who was suppressing a grin.

“Here’s my message to him: I don’t care what he says about me, and I don’t care what he thinks about me, and he should take a look in the mirror every once in a while. Maybe he’d drop the weight thing off of his list of criticisms,” added the former governor.

The quip was yet another sign of the governor’s emerging campaign strategy: A debate-stage showdown with Donald Trump.