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OTTAWA — Former prime minister Stephen Harper could be dragged into the criminal case against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, as the suspended military officer’s lawyers seek access to thousands of secret government documents.

Last month, Norman’s lawyers gave the court a list of records they say are needed to ensure their client receives a fair trial, even as they accused the government of having “cherry-picked” the disclosure of information.

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The Opposition Conservatives subsequently picked up on the demand for more information by repeatedly calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to provide the documents, which government lawyers have said includes about 135,000 files.

But many of the records that Norman’s lawyers requested — including many deemed cabinet secrets or “confidences” — were created while Harper was prime minister, and federal officials say he is the only one who can authorize their release.