Top Stories
Breaking: IT manager implicates Trump in classified files case
Former US President Donald Trump has been implicated by one of his employees in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, according to a court filing.
Yuscil Taveras, an IT director identified as Trump Employee 4 in legal documents, changed his testimony after switching lawyers, say prosecutors.
He now accuses Mr Trump and two aides of “efforts to delete security camera footage”, says the filing.
The 77-year-old ex-president faces 40 charges in the case.
Mr Trump, his close personal aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker Carlos De Oliveira have all pleaded not guilty.
The former president is accused of mishandling the storage of sensitive files at his Florida estate and trying to cover up the alleged crime by deleting security footage.
The court document filed on Tuesday says Mr Taveras changed lawyers after special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the case, notified him he was being investigated for perjury.
His former lawyer also represents Mr Trump’s co-defendant Mr Nauta.
During grand jury testimony in March this year, Mr Taveras “repeatedly denied or claimed not to recall any contacts or conversations about the security footage at Mar-a-Lago”.
Prosecutors said they obtained evidence that Mr De Oliveira had asked Mr Taveras to delete the CCTV footage after investigators demanded the video as they tracked the movement of boxes containing the documents inside the resort.
The chief judge overseeing the federal grand jury, James Boasberg, offered a public defender to Mr Taveras after prosecutors pointed out a conflict of interest for his lawyer Stanley Woodward, who was being partly funded by Mr Trump’s Save America political action committee.
“Advising Trump Employee 4 to correct his sworn testimony would result in testimony incriminating Mr Woodward’s other client, Nauta; but permitting Trump Employee 4’s false testimony to stand uncorrected would leave Trump Employee 4 exposed to criminal charges for perjury,” the filing said.
On 5 July, Mr Taveras informed Judge Boasberg that he no longer wished to be represented by Mr Woodward and would instead accept the offer of legal aid.
“Immediately after receiving new counsel, Trump Employee 4 retracted his prior false testimony and provided information that implicated Nauta, [Carlos] De Oliveira, and Trump in efforts to delete security camera footage, as set forth in the superseding indictment,” the court filing says.
Mr Taveras is not charged in the case, which is scheduled for trial next May.
Mr Trump is fighting criminal charges in three other cases.
Simon Ekpa Not Our Member, Should Not Be Associated With Us- IPOB
NEWSPAPER HEADLINES FOR FRIDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2024
My husband assaulted me, ruined my career – Olajumoke Onibread
“I did not punch Akpabio” – Senator Bamidele speaks on alleged fight with Senate President
Speaker Obasa Clarifies Negative Perceptions As Sanwo-Olu Presents 2025 Budget
2027: “No vacancy for non-indigenes in Alausa” – Lagos youths tell Seyi Tinubu
Biafra Activist Simon Ekpa Arrested in Finland Over Terrorism
‘Don’t Waste Your Time Again In 2027’: Bode George Begs Atiku (Video)
Appeal Court Overturns Judgment On Rivers LG Elections
National Assembly Passes Bill For Life Imprisonment For Drug Traffickers
Senate Approves Tinubu’s $2.2bn Loan Request
2023 Presidential Poll Not Rigged – Okupe To Peter Obi
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Speaks On What Simon Ekpa’s Arrest Means For Igbo Nation
Car Dealer Surprises Davido With Brand New Escalade To Celebrate His Birthday
PDP Crisiss: Damagum Holds Closed-Door Meeting With State Chairmen
Politics21 hours agoOhanaeze Ndigbo Speaks On What Simon Ekpa’s Arrest Means For Igbo Nation
Top Stories21 hours ago2023 Presidential Poll Not Rigged – Okupe To Peter Obi
Top Stories7 hours ago2027: “No vacancy for non-indigenes in Alausa” – Lagos youths tell Seyi Tinubu
Top Stories6 hours ago“I did not punch Akpabio” – Senator Bamidele speaks on alleged fight with Senate President
News21 hours agoSenate Approves Tinubu’s $2.2bn Loan Request
Politics7 hours ago‘Don’t Waste Your Time Again In 2027’: Bode George Begs Atiku (Video)
News6 hours agoMy husband assaulted me, ruined my career – Olajumoke Onibread
Top Stories7 hours agoNational Assembly Passes Bill For Life Imprisonment For Drug Traffickers