DOJ Ends Cases Against Trump Co-Defendants in Classified Documents Investigation

The Justice Department dropped its appeal against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, finalizing the dismissal of charges related to the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.

The Justice Department requested the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss its appeal against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira with prejudice, effectively ending the case.
Both men were accused of conspiring with Donald Trump to obstruct the investigation into classified documents stored at Mar-a-Lago after his first term as president.
The case was originally dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith's appointment was unconstitutional, a decision now left unchallenged.
Following Trump’s 2024 election victory, the DOJ cited its policy against prosecuting sitting presidents as the reason for dropping federal cases against Trump himself.
The dismissal raises questions about the potential release of Jack Smith’s classified documents report, which remains blocked from public and congressional access.