FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against Donald Trump held a hearing on Friday concerning a potential conflict of interest involving a co-defendant’s lawyer.
According to prosecutors, attorney Stanley Woodward, who represents Trump valet Walt Nauta, has a conflict due to his prior representation of an information technology specialist who is expected to be a crucial government witness at the trial. He also represents another individual who may be called upon to testify.
Nauta, together with the former Republican president, faces charges of conspiring to conceal classified government documents from federal investigators. During Friday’s hearing, prosecutors aimed to ensure that Nauta fully understands the situation with his lawyer and willingly waives his right to conflict-free legal representation.
Prosecutors have identified the witness as an IT director at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago complex in Palm Beach, who was asked to delete surveillance video as part of an apparent effort to obstruct the federal investigation. However, after switching lawyers last summer, the witness retracted their “prior false testimony”, as prosecutors have stated. This IT specialist has since struck a cooperation agreement with prosecutors and is expected to serve as a witness as the trial progresses to its scheduled date in May.
The hearing was initially scheduled for last week but was postponed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon due to her dissatisfaction with the arguments presented by prosecutors, which she believed had not been properly raised in court documents. The hearing was rescheduled for Friday.
Since then, Woodward has informed special counsel Jack Smith’s team that he does not plan to cross-examine the witness he previously represented, as declared in a filing from prosecutors this week. Prosecutors had argued that it would be unethical for him to do so, as it could potentially cause him to violate the former client’s confidentiality or undermine efforts to discredit the witness’ testimony, as is typical of defense lawyers.
Last week, Cannon ruled that another co-defendant, Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, can retain his attorney after affirming his understanding of potential conflicts arising from his lawyer’s prior representation of three potential government witnesses.
Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira have all pleaded not guilty. A spokesperson for Trump, the early front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, asserts that the case is part of a “desperate and flailing attempt” by Democrats to harass him and influence the outcome of the White House contest.
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Tucker reported from Washington.
