 |
SCREEN CAPTURE Walt Nauta, right, Donald Trump's personal aide, has been indicted for mishandling classified documents and lying to federal investigators. |
Walt Nauta, a Navy veteran who served as Trump's valet when Trump occupied the White House, faces five counts of concealing or withholding documents and taking part in a conspiracy to obstruct justice, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The federal indictment alleges that Nauta moved dozens of boxes containing classified documents at Trump's direction at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's home in Palm Beach, Fla., and then lied to federal investigators about it.
When Trump lost the 2020 election, Nauta retired from the Navy and became his personal aide and "body" man. Nauta, 40, is usually seen nearby wherever Trump goes, ready to do whatever Trump asks him to do.
Nauta was born in Agat, Guam where his relatives continue to live. When contacted by US media, his family sounded surprised at the news.
In an interview with the Washington Post before Nauta was charged, relatives in Guam described him as a "good boy" who moved to the United States "to enjoy his life, not to cause problems."
Nauta's mother, Pauline Torre, told the Washington Post, the fact that her son had been selected to serve the president "says it all."
The charges against Trump and Nauta largely center around their alleged efforts to mislead authorities about the classified material the former president hoarded at Mar-a-Lago.
Although surveillance footage shows Nauta moving 64 boxes out of a storage area at Mar-a-Lago, Nauta told federal investigators he didn't know the contents of the boxes nor if they were classified or not.
Trump and Nauta have continued their close working relationship, despite being named as Trump’s co-defendant . The relationship is complicated by a judge's order that the two to not talk to each other about the case.
Late last week, Nauta accompanied Trump on a political appearance in Philadelphia, where the two were photographed side-by-side ordering cheesesteaks at a famous city institution, reports The Rolling Stone.
Trump defended Nauta on his Truth Social social media platform and accused officials at the DOJ of "trying to destroy his life" and "hoping that he will say bad things about 'Trump'."
In an interview with the Washington Post before Nauta was charged, relatives in Guam described him as a "good boy" who moved to the United States "to enjoy his life, not to cause problems."
Nauta's mother, Pauline Torre, told the Washington Post, the fact that her son had been selected to serve the president "says it all."
The charges against Trump and Nauta largely center around their alleged efforts to mislead authorities about the classified material the former president hoarded at Mar-a-Lago.
Although surveillance footage shows Nauta moving 64 boxes out of a storage area at Mar-a-Lago, Nauta told federal investigators he didn't know the contents of the boxes nor if they were classified or not.
Trump and Nauta have continued their close working relationship, despite being named as Trump’s co-defendant . The relationship is complicated by a judge's order that the two to not talk to each other about the case.
Late last week, Nauta accompanied Trump on a political appearance in Philadelphia, where the two were photographed side-by-side ordering cheesesteaks at a famous city institution, reports The Rolling Stone.
Trump defended Nauta on his Truth Social social media platform and accused officials at the DOJ of "trying to destroy his life" and "hoping that he will say bad things about 'Trump'."
Nauta’s attorney Stan Woodward, accompanied by Florida attorney Sasha Dadan, entered Nauta’s not guilty plea at a federal court in Miami July 6 in front of Chief Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres, the Washington Post reported.
The Department of Justice charged Nauta with six felony counts in conjunction with Trump’s June 8 indictment: conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal and making false statements and representations.
Investigators of the DOJ's Special Counsel Jack Smith allege Nauta helped Trump move boxes at Mar-A-Lago containing classified documents in an effort to evade federal investigators and Trump’s attorneys. The indictment accuses Nauta of lying to the FBI by saying he did not know where the boxes were located before agents obtained security footage showing Nauta and another aide moving materials.
Federal Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who is overseeing the case, scheduled Trump’s trial to begin August 14 but that will likely be delayed, a favorite Trump legal tactic.
The Department of Justice charged Nauta with six felony counts in conjunction with Trump’s June 8 indictment: conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal and making false statements and representations.
Investigators of the DOJ's Special Counsel Jack Smith allege Nauta helped Trump move boxes at Mar-A-Lago containing classified documents in an effort to evade federal investigators and Trump’s attorneys. The indictment accuses Nauta of lying to the FBI by saying he did not know where the boxes were located before agents obtained security footage showing Nauta and another aide moving materials.
Federal Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who is overseeing the case, scheduled Trump’s trial to begin August 14 but that will likely be delayed, a favorite Trump legal tactic.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.
No comments:
Post a Comment