Trump property manager denies charges in Mar-a-Lago document case.
FORT PIERCE, Fla.—Mar-a-Lago Property Manager Pleads Not Guilty to Conspiracy Charges
Carlos De Oliveira, President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property manager, appeared in court on August 15 and pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring with the former president to delete security footage at the Palm Beach club.
De Oliveira’s arraignment took place at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida, before Magistrate Judge Shaniek M. Maynard.
According to the allegations, De Oliveira conspired with President Trump to delete security footage that had been requested by investigators looking into the former president’s alleged stockpiling of classified documents at his property.
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De Oliveira was represented by Florida attorney Don Morrell, who filed a Pro Hac Vici motion to allow De Oliveira’s Washington-based attorney, John Irving, to remain on the case.
During the hearing, De Oliveira was granted a trial by jury, and the prosecutors were ordered to provide discovery materials within two weeks.
Representing the Department of Justice’s special counsel Jack Smith’s office was Michael Thakur.
It should be noted that Morrell’s services are only secured for the upcoming trial, and any further legal proceedings, including an appeal, would require additional arrangements with Morrell or another Florida-based attorney.
Compared to President Trump’s arraignment on August 10, the group of reporters at the courthouse for De Oliveira’s hearing was considerably smaller.
Previous Appearance
De Oliveira was added to the indictment against President Trump and his aide, Walt Nauta, at the end of July. He faces charges including obstruction of justice conspiracy and lying to investigators.
During a court appearance on July 31, De Oliveira did not enter a plea as he needed to secure representation based in Florida.
At that hearing, the judge ordered De Oliveira to surrender his passport and sign an agreement to pay $100,000 if he failed to appear in court.
After the hearing, De Oliveira’s attorney, John Irving, expressed eagerness to review any potential evidence the Justice Department may have. However, he declined to comment on whether De Oliveira had been asked to testify against President Trump.
According to Smith, President Trump allegedly moved boxes containing defense-related information to his home upon leaving the White House. He is also accused of directing Nauta to move the boxes to prevent them from being searched after the Department of Justice subpoenaed them in 2022.
Nauta, who is also facing charges, pleaded not guilty.
On July 27, Smith added three more charges, alleging that President Trump asked De Oliveira to delete security camera footage after the Department of Justice subpoenaed it.
President Trump has repeatedly denied these allegations, stating that no footage was deleted and that he never made such a request.
Case Against Trump
During an arraignment on August 10 at the same courthouse, President Trump pleaded not guilty to three new charges brought by Smith. He is facing a total of 38 counts, including willful retention of national defense information, obstruction, and making false statements.
The trial for the former president, scheduled for May 2024, will be presided over by Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump administration appointee.
In the latest development of the case, President Trump’s attorneys have requested the reestablishment of a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) at his residence. This would allow them to discuss classified case information with him without the need to travel to a government SCIF.
Todd Blanche, one of President Trump’s attorneys, explained that traveling to the SCIF facilities would require significant planning and effort due to the necessary Secret Service security measures.
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