A federal judge in the Southern District of Florida, Aileen Cannon, expressed skepticism towards efforts made by former President Donald Trump’s co-defendants to dismiss the charges against them in the classified documents case. The case involves Trump’s valet, Walt Nauta, and Mar-a-Lago property manager, Carlos De Oliveira, who are facing obstruction charges related to hiding documents at the Florida estate after Trump left the White House and lying to the FBI about their involvement. Despite Cannon not considering Trump’s requests for dismissal, the outcome of the co-defendants’ arguments regarding the obstruction charges will impact Trump’s defense strategy in the ongoing legal battle.
During a two-hour hearing, Judge Cannon scrutinized the arguments put forth by the defense attorneys of Nauta and De Oliveira, particularly focusing on the clarity of the charges against their clients. De Oliveira’s claim that he was unaware of subpoenas issued to Trump for classified documents and Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage was challenged by the special counsel team, emphasizing that awareness of the federal investigation was sufficient for the charges. Nauta’s defense centered around interpreting the term “corruptly” in the obstruction statute, contending that ongoing litigation about the word’s definition makes the charges constitutionally vague.
As Trump’s allies claim selective prosecution, Jack Smith, the special counsel leading the case, maintains that Trump’s alleged obstruction of the investigation into classified documents sets this case apart. Both Nauta and De Oliveira have requested the charges against them be dismissed, citing legal burdens and lack of knowledge, respectively. Despite the defense’s arguments, Judge Cannon’s responses during the hearing suggest a cautious approach towards dismissing the charges and may lead to a trial where the core issues will be deliberated further.