A federal magistrate judge presiding over pretrial matters in the Reality Winner leak case on Thursday issued a sweeping protective order allowing no exceptions for published news reports that either refer to or may be derived from classified information.

The order also effectively seals any court records filed in the case not only that may reference classified materials, but that lawyers who author the pleadings either are not sure or should have reason to believe may reference classified materials.

U.S. Magistrate Brian Epps' order, handed down Thursday, goes a long way toward muzzling Winner's defense team and makes anyone who violates the order subject to criminal prosecution.