Current:Home > reviewsMar-a-Lago property manager to be arraigned in classified documents probe -PrestigeTrade
Mar-a-Lago property manager to be arraigned in classified documents probe
View
Date:2025-04-16 10:05:38
The newest defendant to be charged as part of the classified documents case brought by special counsel Jack Smith against former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in court this morning, marking the latest development in the high-profile case that is set to go to trial next May.
Carlos De Oliveira, a property manager at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, was newly charged in the case last week in a superseding indictment returned by a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida, adding on to the prior indictment filed against Trump and his longtime aide Walt Nauta in June.
As part of the new indictment, Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira are all facing new charges, including that they allegedly took part in an effort to delete surveillance footage at Mar-a-Lago in order "to conceal information from the FBI and grand jury," according to the indictment.
MORE: 'The boss' wants server deleted: New allegations emerge in Trump indictment
De Oliveira has been summoned to appear in Miami federal court for his arraignment on Monday morning.
The superseding indictment adds two new obstruction counts based on allegations that Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira "attempted to delete surveillance video footage at The Mar-a-Lago Club in summer of 2022," according to court filings.
De Oliveira allegedly told another employee that "the boss" wanted the server containing Mar-a-Lago security footage deleted, and asked how long the footage was kept, according to the indictment.
"What are we going to do?" he allegedly said.
The exchange occurred after a subpoena for security footage had already been sent to Trump's attorney, the indictment alleges.
De Oliveira was also added to the original obstruction conspiracy charge against Trump and Nauta, and is also charged with making false statements and representations stemming from a voluntary interview with the FBI on Jan. 13, 2023.
During that interview, De Oliveira repeatedly answered "no" when asked if he was part of any group involved in helping move and unload boxes at Mar-a-Lago-- but the indictment now identifies De Oliveira "as the person who helped Nauta move approximately 30 boxes from Trump's residence to the Storage Room on June 2, 2022," according to a court filing.
The indictment also identifies De Oliveira as the one of the "others" mentioned in the original indictment who "loaded several of Trump's boxes along with other items on aircraft that flew Trump and his family north for the summer."
The indictment also lays out an alleged effort to secure De Oliveira's "loyalty." Just over two weeks after the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, according to the indictment, Trump called De Oliveira and told him that he would get him an attorney.
That same day, Nauta called an unnamed Mar-a-Lago employee and said words to the effect of, "someone just wanted to make sure Carlos is good," the indictment alleges.
MORE: Trump says he'll still run if convicted and sentenced, responds to security footage allegations
The employee told Nauta that De Oliveira "was loyal," according to the indictment, and that he "would not do anything to affect his relationship with Trump."
In addition, the new indictment charges Trump with allegedly possessing the classified document that he was previously heard discussing on an audio recording made during a July 21, 2021, meeting at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club.
In June, Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials, after prosecutors said he repeatedly refused to return hundreds of documents containing classified information ranging from U.S. nuclear secrets to the nation's defense capabilities. He has denied all charges and denounced the probe as a political witch hunt. Nauta also pleaded not guilty to related charges.
Trump has pushed back against the latest allegations, writing in a post on Truth Social that the security tapes "were not deleted" and were "voluntarily handed over."
In a court filing, the special counsel's team said that the superseding indictment "should not disturb" the scheduled start of the trail, which is currently set for May 2024.
ABC News' Alexander Mallin contributed to this report.
veryGood! (98)
Related
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Kansas judge allows ACLU to intervene in lawsuit over gender markers on driver’s licenses
- 2023 World Cup awards: Spain's Bonmati wins Golden Ball, Japan's Miyazawa wins Golden Boot
- Saints: Jimmy Graham back with team after stopped by police during ‘medical episode’
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- School's starting — but many districts don't have enough bus drivers for their students
- Woman captured on video climbing Rome's Trevi Fountain to fill up water bottle
- Hope is hard to let go after Maui fire, as odds wane over reuniting with still-missing loved ones
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- ‘Born again in dogs’: How Clear the Shelters became a year-round mission for animal lovers
Ranking
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft suffers technical glitch in pre-landing maneuver
- Republican candidates prepare for first debate — with or without Trump
- Ron Cephas Jones Dead at 66: This Is Us Cast Pays Tribute to Late Costar
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Courting fireflies are one of the joys of summer. Light pollution is killing their vibe.
- Opinion: Corporate ballpark names just don't have that special ring
- Woman captured on video climbing Rome's Trevi Fountain to fill up water bottle
Recommendation
Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
‘Blue Beetle’ unseats ‘Barbie’ atop box office, ending four-week reign
Troopers on leave after shooting suspect who lunged at them with knife, Maryland State Police say
Fish found on transformer after New Jersey power outage -- officials suspect bird dropped it
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
Tua Tagovailoa's return to field a huge success, despite interception on first play
Are forced-reset triggers illegal machine guns? ATF and gun rights advocates at odds in court fights
Surprise: Golfer makes two aces in four holes, celebrates with dive into lake