Former President Donald J. Trump’s personal assistant, Walt Nauta, said Thursday that Mr. He left the post.
In a brief hearing in Federal District Court in Miami, Mr. Nauta’s plea was entered for her by her attorney, Stanley Woodward Jr. Mr. Woodward was accompanied at the hearing by Sasha Dadon, a local Florida attorney assisting in the case.
A 40-year-old Navy veteran from Guam, Mr. Nauta last month Mr. Trump is charged in a 38-count indictment with conspiracy, making false statements and withholding documents. Based in Washington, Mr. Because Woodward had not yet hired an attorney licensed to practice in Florida, on June 13 he asked Mr. Not presented with Trump.
Ms. Dadan, a former public defender, has little experience in federal courts — her name never appears in PACER, a nationwide database of federal cases — but she has handled numerous local cases in Fort Pierce, Fla. Mr. The judge overseeing Trump’s case, Eileen M. Cannon, Mr. Based on where the former president’s trial with Nauta may eventually be held.
Ms. Thadden has also been active in Republican politics in recent years, mounting an unsuccessful campaign for the Florida House in 2018.
Mr. Trump and Mr. The indictment against Nauta was filed by the Office of Special Prosecutor Jack Smith. Mr. At Trump’s request, Mr. It describes how Nauda repeatedly moved the boxes: At a critical period: In May 2022, Mr. Federal prosecutors are demanding a visit to Mar-a-Lago soon to execute a subpoena and collect related materials, demanding the return of all classified documents in Trump’s possession.
According to the chargesheet, Mr. Nauta removed 64 boxes from the storage room during those weeks, but only brought about 30 boxes unaccounted for. All this happened, Mr. One of Trump’s lawyers, M. Before Evan Corcoran began sorting through items kept in a storage room in an attempt to find the remaining classified material and turn it over to the government, the indictment states. .
Mr. Nauta’s trial — a brief and largely ceremonial procedure — was held in Miami by Mr. There is no circus-like atmosphere that characterizes Trump’s own investigation. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. The hearing before Torres lasted about 10 minutes. Because Mr. Mr. Woodward Nauta did little more than enter a plea and demand a jury trial.
Prior to working at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Mr. Trump served as one of Trump’s White House valets. Nauta is now in the delicate position of a high-profile federal prosecution as a co-defendant of the former president. and one of his closest employees. To complicate matters, Mr. Under a court order, Trump cannot discuss the facts of the indictment with more than 80 people involved in the case — Mr. His job is to shadow the former president everywhere he goes, including Nauta. Different preferences and needs.
Even before the charge sheet was filed, the government said Mr. Mr. Nauda It was trying to turn on Trump and get him to cooperate with their investigation. Last fall, prosecutors in Washington accused Mr. Nauda and Mr. Pressure was put on Woodward, Mr. On moving boxes for Trump, Mr. They said they were skeptical about Nauta’s account.
Two weeks ago, Mr. Attorneys working for Smith, Dec. They asked Judge Cannon to adjourn the hearing till the 11th. Mr. Trump’s lawyers have until Monday to respond to the government’s request and suggest their own schedule.
The timing of the trial could have major consequences, especially if Judge Cannon allows it to take place after the 2024 election. If that happens, the current front-runner for the Republican nomination, Mr. If Trump wins the race, his attorney general will have to drop the case entirely.
David C. Adams contributed reporting
