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By Monica Sager and Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump's administration is terminating the case against his former co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, in the classified documents investigation initiated by former special counsel Jack Smith.
Why It Matters
Trump had accused Smith and President Joe Biden's Department of Justice of targeting him politically in the two federal probes. One concerned Trump's actions related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the United States Capitol and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. The other looked into whether he mishandled classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago after he left the White House. Smith dropped both cases after Trump's victory this past November.
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Before Trump took office, Smith's team was evaluating how to close out the classified documents and 2020 election interference cases. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case in July.
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What To Know
The Justice Department has decided to halt its appeal, which was aimed at reinstating the criminal charges against Trump's employees. This appeal also sought to uphold the attorney general's long-held authority to appoint special prosecutors, which Trump's administration has been attempting to challenge.
"The United States of America moves to voluntarily dismiss its appeal with prejudice," prosecutors wrote in the documents obtained by Newsweek. "The government has conferred with counsel for Appellees Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who do not object to the voluntary dismissal."
Nauta is a former Trump valet. He was accused of obstructing the retrieval of classified documents from Mar-a-Lago. He pleaded not guilty to charges, which included conspiracy to obstruct justice. An unsealed FBI interview transcript, however, shows agents questioned Nauta about potential coaching to withhold information.
Last summer, a federal judge dismissed the case against Nauta and De Oliveira, the property manager at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
De Oliveira was accused of ordering the deletion of surveillance footage after federal prosecutors had requested it. He was also charged with helping move boxes of classified documents to mislead the compliance check and making false statements to the FBI during an interview. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
CNN had reported earlier this month that Trump was not going to pardon Nauta and De Oliveira because it would "connote guilt."
What People Are Saying
White House Correspondent Simon Ateba, on X, formerly Twitter: "This marks one of the final steps in unwinding Trump's legal battles, following a ruling by Judge Aileen Cannon, who dismissed the case last summer, questioning Smith's legal authority. Trump had already seen his own charges dropped after becoming president-elect."
Political commentator Brando Republic, on X: "Another huge win for justice."
Political commentator Benny Johnson, on X: "THE DEATH OF LAWFARE: The Justice Department files motion to drop the case against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira who were charged alongside President Trump by Jack Smith."
What Happens Next
The Justice Department had previously said it would not make Smith's report on the classified documents investigation public as long as the investigation against Nauta and De Oliveira continued.
Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department is still widely expected to keep the reports hidden.
Update 1/29/25, 12:39 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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