The judge in the Whitewater trial ordered NBC and CNN to provide James McDougal’s lawyer with unbroadcast portions of interviews with David Hale, a key government witness.

U.S. District Judge George Howard Jr. ordered the networks to turn over their outtakes immediately to attorney Sam Heuer, who represents McDougal, because Hale could testify as early as this afternoon.

NBC and CNN didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment, but in earlier court filings, CNN said it shouldn’t be required to submit network materials, saying McDougal was on a “fishing expedition.”

The judge already had the networks turn over tapes of their actual broadcasts, and made his ruling after privately reviewing the outtakes.

Heuer said the interviews were not done in a “confidential-type situation” and that they could help him discredit Hale.

The judge agreed.