An employee at the Mar-a-Lago club at the center of former President Trump’s classified documents scandal said Monday the matter was not a “witch hunt,” pushing back against political attacks by Trump and his allies. did.
Brian Butler, known in court records as “Trump Employee 5”; told CNN on Monday. He denied Trump’s claims that the criminal nuisance charges filed against him were politically motivated and outlined how he unknowingly took part in transporting boxes of classified documents. did.
He talked about how the criminal case against Trump had shaken him up and destroyed his relationship with Carlos de Oliveira, who he said was a close friend.
“I felt like it was a completely no-win situation for me. I mean, they’re asking me about one of my best friends, to be honest. But what I’m saying is… I have a bad feeling that he’s getting into trouble,” Butler told CNN’s Caitlan Collins.
“Nobody should have to go through that,” he said. “and, [Trump] It’s always about standing there and saying what he’s saying about this being a witch hunt and everything else. …He cannot take responsibility for anything. ”
Butler explains how President Trump’s co-defendant Walt Nauta made a bizarre request for cooperation in June 2022 to move a box of documents from Mar-a-Lago to a waiting private jet. explained.
He said he had “no idea” that the 10 to 15 boxes he transported with Nauta and de Oliveira contained classified material. It was the same day federal investigators met with Trump’s lawyers and searched documents.
“They were the boxes that the indictments came in, white banker’s boxes. I remember loading that,” he said.
Mr. Butler was a key witness for special counsel Jack Smith, who refused to use lawyers like Mr. Nauta and Mr. de Oliveira, who were sent by Trump’s defense team. He told CNN that he was the source who alerted prosecutors to allegations of leaking confidential information to Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt in 2021.
Trump’s lawyers have long sought to throw out and delay a classified documents lawsuit accusing him of 40 felonies, including mishandling classified information and obstruction of justice.
In a filing last week, Smith pushed back against Trump’s defense, arguing that his status as a former president does not immunize him from prosecution.
Prosecutors also pointed to a clear contrast between this case and the classified documents investigation into former President Biden, saying that Trump had committed “extensive and repeated efforts to obstruct justice and prevent the return of classified documents.” ” he claimed to have done.
Smith suggested a trial date for the case be set for early July.
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