A Florida judge is set to release the grand jury testimony of Donald Trump’s former valet, Walter Nauta, in relation to the case involving classified documents found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The decision to transfer control of the case to the Florida judge came after a court in Washington, D.C., where Nauta testified before the grand jury, issued an order. The testimony could provide insight into why Trump continued to keep classified documents at his estate and any possible orders given to his staff at that time. The Department of Justice special counsel, Jack Smith, has forwarded the D.C. judge’s order to the Florida court, giving the judge the authority to determine whether to disclose Nauta’s grand jury testimony to the public.
Former President Donald Trump is facing 40 federal charges related to his handling of sensitive materials retrieved from Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House in 2021. He is accused of obstructing federal authorities in their efforts to return the documents and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Nauta, along with another individual, Carlos De Oliveira, are also facing charges in connection to the case. They are accused of moving boxes of sensitive materials around Trump’s estate to prevent federal agents from finding them, as well as conspiring to delete security footage sought under a subpoena. Both Nauta and De Oliveira have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, including conspiracy to obstruct justice.
A sealed order issued by Smith in Washington, D.C., allows for the resolution of public disclosure of certain pleadings and materials related to the grand jury matter involving Nauta. The order indicates that Nauta’s testimony is included in the documents. Smith has proposed redactions to the documents, which suggests that they will likely be released to the public in redacted form. The prosecutors in the case have requested redactions to protect witnesses from potential intimidation by Trump supporters, as seen in other cases involving the former president. The documents show that search warrants were obtained for Nauta’s cell site data, Google location data, work Apple iCloud, Microsoft email, as well as his car and phones, indicating the extent of the investigation into Nauta.
Smith’s efforts to redact documents and protect witnesses suggest a careful approach to the release of sensitive information in the case. The court’s decision to transfer control of the case to the Florida judge indicates a shift in the proceedings, with the potential for the release of significant new information regarding Trump’s handling of classified documents. The disclosure of Nauta’s grand jury testimony could shed light on the events surrounding the discovery of the documents at Mar-a-Lago and Trump’s interactions with his staff at that time. As the legal proceedings continue, more details may emerge, providing a clearer picture of the allegations against Trump and his associates in the classified documents case. Newsweek will continue to monitor developments in the case and seek comments from relevant parties as new information becomes available.
