President Trump tapped Navy veteran and his co-defendant, Walt Nauta, for his seat on the Naval Academy Visitors Committee on Friday in the confidential documents case of special adviser Jack Smith.
“Our great US Navy Academy needs a new committee of visitors. We are pleased to announce that a group of amazing patriots will serve the board. Walt Nauta, Sean Spicer, “Dock Ronnie” Jackson, Derek Van Olden,” the president wrote. Friday's post A true society.
“Together, they will ensure continuous greatness for the academy,” he added.
Nauta previously served as Trump's bodyman and accompanied his leaders during years of visits to the Mar Lago apartment complex where Trump was accused of preserving classified documents. Nauta was charged with allegedly violating spying and related crimes.
Smith's lawsuit against President was repealed in July 2024, but charges against Nauta and real estate manager Carlos de Oliveira were dismissed last month by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Trump has promised that he would ultimately forgive the co-defendant upon reelection if he was found guilty of a crime related to documents at a Florida resort, according to court filings.
Stanley Woodward, who represented Trump's former aide in the classified document case, was appointed to the White House legal team in January.
Nauta's latest appointment from the president comes almost a month after Trump fired a committee of visitors for the four military service academy, citing “awakened ideology.” The main purpose of the entity is to oversee student life on military institution campuses.
Spicer was reappointed to his post at the Naval Academy after the Biden administration encouraged him to resign in 2021. He is currently a former Navy seal along with Rep. Nauta, Rep. Ronnie Jackson (R-Texas), and former US Navy officer Derrick Van Oden (R-WIS).
