DOJ Dismisses Criminal Case Against Trump’s Valet, Mar-a-Lago Manager/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Justice Department has dropped all criminal charges against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, two former aides to President Donald Trump, in the Florida classified documents case. The move follows the department’s decision not to prosecute Trump, citing a longstanding policy against indicting a sitting president. The dismissal formally ends legal proceedings against Nauta and De Oliveira, who were accused of obstructing an FBI investigation into Trump’s handling of classified materials. The special counsel’s report on the case is unlikely to be made public under the new administration.
DOJ Drops Charges Against Trump’s Co-Defendants: Quick Looks
- Case Dismissed: The Justice Department ended legal proceedings against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira.
- Charges Originally Filed by Special Counsel: Both men were accused of conspiring with Trump to obstruct an FBI probe into classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
- Legal Justification: Prosecutors withdrew the appeal after a judge ruled the special counsel’s appointment was unlawful.
- Trump’s Case Also Dropped: The Justice Department previously ended its case against Trump after his 2024 election victory.
- Special Counsel Report Likely Sealed: The Trump administration’s Justice Department is expected to keep the investigation report confidential.
DOJ Dismisses Criminal Case Against Trump’s Valet, Mar-a-Lago Manager
DOJ Ends Prosecution of Trump Co-Defendants in Classified Documents Case
Charges Against Trump’s Aides Dismissed
On Wednesday, the Justice Department formally dropped all charges against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, two aides to President Donald Trump, who were accused of obstructing an FBI investigation into Trump’s retention of classified documents.
Nauta, a valet to Trump, and De Oliveira, a property manager at Mar-a-Lago, were originally charged in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation. The case alleged that they helped Trump conceal classified materials after he left the White House in 2021.
However, in July 2024, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case, ruling that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was illegal. The Justice Department dropped Trump’s charges after his 2024 election win, citing the department’s policy against indicting a sitting president.
Government Withdraws Appeal, Ending Case
Even after Trump’s case was dropped, the Justice Department had continued to appeal the ruling dismissing charges against Nauta and De Oliveira.
On Wednesday, prosecutors officially withdrew that appeal, notifying the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that they were ending the case permanently.
“The United States of America moves to voluntarily dismiss its appeal with prejudice,” the DOJ wrote in its court filing.
The decision eliminates any remaining legal risk for Nauta and De Oliveira, who had faced potential prison time if convicted.
Trump Administration Unlikely to Release Special Counsel’s Report
As long as proceedings were ongoing against Nauta and De Oliveira, the Justice Department had withheld the special counsel’s report on the classified documents case.
With the case now fully dismissed, the Trump administration’s DOJ is expected to keep the report sealed indefinitely.
The move aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to push back against investigations into his presidency, reinforcing his stance that the classified documents case was politically motivated.
Final Thoughts: Case Closed for Trump’s Inner Circle
The dismissal of charges against Nauta and De Oliveira marks another major legal victory for Trump and his allies. With the classified documents case officially closed, attention now shifts to how the Trump administration will handle future investigations and legal challenges.
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