In a new update to the ongoing investigation into former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, three new criminal charges have been filed against him.[0] The charges were outlined in a superseding indictment filed by the special prosecutor. Along with Trump, another Trump employee, property manager Carlos De Oliveira, is also facing federal criminal charges.[1]
According to the indictment, De Oliveira allegedly told a fellow employee that “the boss” wanted the surveillance footage deleted.[2] When the employee expressed uncertainty about how to do that, De Oliveira insisted that it needed to be done and asked, “what are we going to do?” The indictment further claims that De Oliveira reached out to a supervisor of security for Trump's business organization to try and make it happen.[3]
The superseding indictment also introduces a new defendant to the case, Mar-a-Lago employee Carlos De Oliveira. He is accused of helping Trump and another defendant, Walt Nauta, delete security-camera footage that showed individuals entering and exiting a room where classified information was stored.[4] De Oliveira has yet to appear before a federal judge, so it remains to be seen whether he will plead guilty to the charges.[5]
The new charges against Trump and De Oliveira are related to allegations that they instructed another employee to delete surveillance video footage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in order to prevent it from being provided to a federal grand jury. The indictment provides a detailed timeline of events, including phone calls and text messages between the defendants.
Trump's defense team has responded to the new charges, calling them a “continued desperate and flailing attempt” by the Biden administration to harass the former president and those around him.[6] They maintain that the charges are baseless and politically motivated.
The investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents began with a grand jury subpoena issued in May 2022.[2] The subpoena requested the production of all documents with classification markings in Trump's possession. The indictment alleges that De Oliveira helped move boxes containing classified information and requested the deletion of security camera footage to prevent it from being turned over to the grand jury.
The superseding indictment provides further details about the actions of the defendants, including their interactions with other employees and their attempts to delete the surveillance footage. The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how the defendants will respond to the charges.
Overall, the new charges against Trump and De Oliveira add another layer to the ongoing investigation into the former president's handling of classified documents. As the case continues to unfold, more details are likely to emerge, shedding light on the extent of their alleged involvement and the potential consequences they may face.
0. “Trump faces new charges in updated classified docs indictment” TODAY, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.today.com/video/trump-faces-new-charges-in-updated-classified-docs-indictment-189463621900
1. “What to know about Trump's new charges in Mar-a-Lago documents case” MSNBC, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-new-charges-documents-case-what-to-know-rcna96775
2. “Analysis | The incredibly damaging timeline of the alleged Mar-a-Lago coverup” The Washington Post, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/28/trump-documents-coverup-allegations/
3. “Bonus Episode: Listen to the Superseding Indictment – The Bulwark Podcast” The Bulwark, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.thebulwark.com/podcast-episode/bonus-episode-listen-to-the-superseding-indictment
4. “Who is Carlos De Oliveira, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort manager?” The Hill, 28 Jul. 2023, https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4125347-who-is-carlos-de-oliveira-trumps-mar-a-lago-resort-manager
5. “Trump's Favorite Hobby Comes Back to Haunt Him” The New Republic, 28 Jul. 2023, https://newrepublic.com/article/174707/trump-superseding-indictment-documents-obstruction-justice-favorite-hobby
6. “Third person charged in Trump documents case by special counsel” Fox News, 27 Jul. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/third-person-charged-in-trump-documents-case-by-special-counsel
