FBI notes reveal classified docs co-defendant would be pardoned under another Trump presidency: report
Earlier this month, US District Judge Aileen Cannon — who's presiding over Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago classified documents case — heard Trump co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira's arguments to have their federal charges dismissed.
According to ABC News, the Trump-appointed judge "did not immediately rule on any of the motions."
On Monday, CNN reports Nauta — who's also Trump's valet — "was told that if he was charged with lying to the FBI, the former president would pardon him when he won a second term in 2024, according to notes from an interview with a witness in the federal classified documents investigation."
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Nauta was charged with allegedly assisting the former president with obstructing the Department of Justice's investigation into Trump's mishandling of classified documents. He pleaded guilty.
Per CNN, "A redacted summary of the November 2022 interview given to the FBI by the witness – who is identified as 'Person 16' and described as someone who worked in Trump’s White House – was made public in newly unsealed court filings in the criminal case on Monday."
The news outlet reports the interview summary reads: "NAUTA was told by FPOTUS’ [former President of the United States] people that his investigation was not going anywhere, that it was politically motivated and ‘much ado about nothing."
The summary continues, "NAUTA was also told that even if he gets charged with lying to the FBI, FPOTUS will pardon him in 2024."
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Additionally, CNN reports, "The summary also indicated the witness refused for the interview to be recorded, saying that would be 'a far bigger risk for him in the Trump world.'
CNN's full report is here.
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