Federal appeals court dismisses classified records case against former Trump co-defendants
In a recent development, a federal appeals court has dismissed the appeal charges brought against President Donald Trump’s aides, Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, by former Special Counsel Jack Smith in their classified documents case. This decision comes after the Justice Department moved to drop the charges against Nauta and De Oliveira, who had pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging they conspired to obstruct the FBI investigation into classified documents found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision to dismiss the case on Tuesday morning, putting an end to Smith’s probe that had been ongoing for more than two years. The Justice Department had filed a motion in January to drop all criminal proceedings against Nauta and De Oliveira, effectively bringing the case to a close.
Former Attorney General Merrick Garland had appointed Jack Smith as special counsel in November 2022 to investigate Trump’s retention of classified documents after leaving the White House. Smith, a former assistant U.S. attorney, led the investigation into whether Trump obstructed the federal government’s investigation into the matter. Additionally, Smith was tasked with overseeing the investigation into whether Trump or other officials interfered with the peaceful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election.
Smith had charged Trump in both cases, but Trump pleaded not guilty to the allegations. The classified records case was dismissed in July 2024 by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel. The case related to the 2020 election was also dismissed by Judge Tanya Chutkan.
In January, the Justice Department fired more than a dozen key officials who worked on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team prosecuting the president, citing concerns about their ability to faithfully implement the president’s agenda. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove also directed acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll to identify agents involved in Jan. 6 prosecutions for internal review.
Overall, the dismissal of the appeal charges against Nauta and De Oliveira marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump and his aides. The decision by the federal appeals court brings an end to a lengthy investigation and legal proceedings, providing closure to the individuals involved in the case.
