Federal prosecutors in special counsel Jack Smith’s office are preparing to present their case against former President Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents. In court filings released on Friday, it was revealed that several FBI employees will be called as expert witnesses.
Expert Witnesses in Digital Forensics
The filing listed five witnesses who specialize in digital forensics or cellular analytics. These experts are expected to testify about the data and material extracted from devices and accounts belonging to Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. Additionally, they will provide insights into the extracted data related to an unnamed individual referred to as “Trump Employee 2.”
Trump’s Indictment and Superseding Indictment
Trump was indicted in June 2023 for criminal charges related to classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022. Later, a superseding indictment alleged that Trump was part of a plan to delete security video. Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Image: Boxes of records stored in a bathroom and shower in the Lake Room at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. (Source: Justice Dept. via AP)
The Timeline and Audio Conversation
The recent court filing refers to specific dates mentioned in the indictment. It includes June 27, 2022, when De Oliveira allegedly had a private conversation with another unnamed Trump employee in an “audio closet.” This employee has been identified as Yuscil Taveras, the director of information technology at Mar-a-Lago. The filing notes that Taveras changed his initial testimony after hiring new legal representation.
During this conversation, De Oliveira is reported to have asked Taveras about the retention period for surveillance video on a server at Mar-a-Lago. De Oliveira mentioned that “the boss” wanted the footage wiped. Later that day, De Oliveira and Nauta had a conversation, according to the indictment.
Expert Testimony and Trial Preparation
The special counsel’s office plans to rely on expert testimony to discuss the events of June 27, 2022, as well as the content extracted from devices used by De Oliveira and Nauta. The trial is scheduled for May, and Trump’s attorneys have notified the court about their intention to file several motions next week. These motions will aim to compel discovery from the special counsel’s office, including information about the prosecution team, handling of classified documents, and conduct of the investigation.
It is worth noting that this case is one of many against Trump that are set to go to trial this year as he seeks another term in the White House.
Source – F5mag.com