Trump’s Aide Pleads Not Guilty to Helping Hide Classified Documents

By Staff, Agencies

Donald Trump's personal assistant, Walt Nauta, on Thursday pleaded not guilty to new federal charges brought over the former US president keeping classified documents in his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.

Trump is accused of mishandling dozens of top secret documents he took from the White House as he left office. The materials include blueprints on military and nuclear programs.

Nauta, Trump's longtime so-called "body man," is accused of moving boxes at the Republican ex-leader's property to conceal documents that had been demanded in a grand jury subpoena. He appeared at a federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, denying two new obstruction counts that were added to several charges he is facing for allegedly attempting to stymie the investigation.

Carlos de Oliveira, the property manager at Mar-a-Lago, is accused of helping Nauta move some of the boxes. Trump, who is running for reelection, was also facing new charges – including two for obstruction of justice – but wasn't required to appear and signaled last week that he would plead not guilty.

Trump, who denies all wrongdoing, has now been charged with 40 felony counts in the case, mostly for alleged breaches of the Espionage Act. A trial has been set for May next year, although this will likely be pushed back.

The former president is also facing trial on charges of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. US prosecutors on Thursday asked a federal judge to begin Trump's trial on January 2, 2024, which would have the hearing begin two weeks before the first votes are cast in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. According to polls, Trump is currently the front-runner for the Republicans.