
Justice Department drops case against Trump’s former co-defendants in classified documents investigation
CNN
President Donald Trump’s administration is ending the case against his former co-defendants in the classified documents investigation brought by former special counsel Jack Smith.
President Donald Trump’s administration is ending the case against his former co-defendants in the classified documents investigation brought by former special counsel Jack Smith. The Justice Department has stopped pursuing an appeal brought by Smith to revive the criminal charges against Trump’s employees. The appeal had also sought to defend the attorney general’s ability to appoint special prosecutors — a long-held authority that Trump’s administration has sought to undermine. Last summer, a federal judge dismissed the case against Walt Nauta, who has served for years as Trump’s valet, and Carlos De Oliveira, who worked as a property manager at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. CNN reported earlier this month that Trump was not planning to pardon Nauta and De Oliveira. Sources familiar with the strategy said a pardon would “connote guilt.” The appeals court has not yet signed off on the Justice Department’s request, which is in line with what the two co-defendants wanted as well. This story is breaking and will be updated.