Recent court filings reveal that Donald Trump’s valet, Walt Nauta, played a key role in determining which boxes of documents would be returned to the National Archives from Mar-a-Lago in 2022. Nauta testified to a grand jury about selecting boxes from the resort’s storage room, with Trump himself directing that dozens more boxes not be returned. Additional witnesses corroborated Nauta’s account, shedding light on the inner workings of Mar-a-Lago and Trump’s White House. Trump, Nauta, and another co-defendant have been charged in connection with mishandling national security records and obstruction of justice.
Nauta’s grand jury testimony, part of court filings challenging the special counsel’s case against Trump and Nauta, may be used at trial. Nauta stopped cooperating with the special counsel and is claiming selective and vindictive prosecution. The unredacted search warrant affidavit and Nauta’s statements provide insight into the handling of classified information at Mar-a-Lago and potential obstruction of justice. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty, and a trial date has yet to be set.
The investigation into the mishandling of classified information began after the National Archives discovered sensitive government records in 15 boxes retrieved from Mar-a-Lago. Trump’s lawyers responded to a subpoena for classified documents by providing materials, but subsequent investigations indicated the existence of additional boxes containing sensitive records. The FBI’s observations at the resort, combined with witness statements, implicated Trump in the decision not to return certain boxes to the National Archives.
Nauta, referred to as “Witness 5” in the search warrant affidavit, was involved in moving boxes from Mar-a-Lago’s storage room for Trump’s review. Despite the presence of more boxes beyond the initial 15, Trump did not review the remaining boxes before their retrieval. The FBI reviewed surveillance footage from Mar-a-Lago showing Nauta handling over 60 boxes but returning less than half for review. Nauta’s attorney is seeking to suppress evidence obtained from searches of his phone and email accounts, alleging mischaracterizations in warrant affidavits.
After providing grand jury testimony, Nauta changed attorneys and refused to return for further questioning unless certain conditions were met. He now seeks to exclude evidence gathered from his electronic accounts and contests the validity of the subpoena. The special counsel’s office has disagreed with Nauta’s claims, deeming them implausible. Federal prosecutors have committed to providing updated versions of the search documentation as the case progresses. With Trump, Nauta, and their co-defendants facing criminal charges, the legal proceedings are ongoing.
