Trump Denies Charge and Offers to Testify
Former President Donald Trump has dismissed a federal grand jury indictment accusing him of instructing aides to destroy security footage at Mar-a-Lago as a “fake charge.” Trump stated that he is willing to testify under oath to support his claim. He made these remarks during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press.
Details of the Superseding Indictment
The superseding indictment in Trump’s classified documents case alleges a conspiracy involving Trump and two aides who attempted to persuade another employee to destroy security footage at Mar-a-Lago. This alleged conspiracy took place after the FBI had visited the club to search for classified documents and other materials stored in a facility on the premises.
Trump’s Response and Offer to Testify
When asked about the new charge during the interview, Trump dismissed it as false. He was further questioned about whether he would testify under oath to support his denial, to which he replied affirmatively, stating, “Sure, I’m going to—I’ll testify.” Some legal experts have expressed concerns about the risks associated with Trump testifying in this case, especially after his deposition in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, where he was found liable for sexual abuse and ordered to pay $5 million in damages.
Trump’s Criticism of Special Counsel
Trump also criticized special counsel Jack Smith, referring to him as a “deranged lunatic prosecutor.” He continued to assert that the charge against him was fabricated.
Trump’s Claim about the Security Tapes
Trump emphasized that the security tapes in question had not been deleted, repeatedly referring to them as “my tapes.” He asserted that he could have contested the FBI’s request for the tapes in court but chose to comply willingly. Trump clarified, “Just so you understand, though, we didn’t delete anything. Nothing was deleted.”
Details of the Indictment
The indictment outlines interactions between Trump, his property manager Carlos De Oliveira, and his longtime body man Walt Nauta.
It states that De Oliveira informed another employee that “the boss” wanted the server deleted after FBI agents had visited Mar-a-Lago to collect classified documents on June 3, 2022. The indictment references phone calls, emails, and text messages as evidence of the alleged conspiracy.
Employee’s Response and Pleas
Notably, the indictment reveals that the unidentified employee responded that he did not know how to delete the server and did not believe he had the rights to do so. All three individuals involved—Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira—have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
Additional Details in the Indictment
The indictment provides a detailed account of the events surrounding the alleged conspiracy, including meetings between De Oliveira and Nauta on the Mar-a-Lago property. It also mentions a phone call between Trump and De Oliveira.
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