Trump and co-defendants return to Florida court for new indictment.
Former President Donald Trump’s Co-Defendant to be Arraigned in Florida
Carlos De Oliveira, the third co-defendant of former President Donald Trump, is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday morning in Florida. This comes after charges were added to an indictment in the classified documents case on July 27.
Trump has made it clear that he will not be attending the arraignment hearing at the Alto Lee Adam Adams Sr. United States Courthouse in Fort Pierce. He has waived his right to appear in court filings and has pleaded not guilty to three new charges, including obstruction and willful retention of national defense information.
Arraignment of Trump’s Co-Defendant
Walt Nauta, another co-defendant of Trump, will also be arraigned on two new obstruction counts. While he has the option to waive his appearance, he has not done so yet according to court records. Nauta previously attended a pretrial hearing in July to discuss the handling of classified records in the upcoming trial.
De Oliveira, who works at Mar-a-Lago and was added as Trump’s latest co-defendant, is expected to appear in Fort Pierce on Thursday. He will enter a plea on four counts, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, concealing an object, and making a false statement.
During his first appearance in court, De Oliveira did not enter a plea as his arraignment was postponed until he could find a local lawyer. He had initially appeared with his attorney, John Irving, who is based in Washington, D.C.
Charges Against Trump
The initial charges against Trump, filed in June by special counsel Jack Smith, accuse him of mishandling classified documents taken from the White House. It is alleged that he coordinated with his staff to hide these documents from investigators seeking their return to Washington. Trump now faces a total of 40 counts related to the alleged mishandling of classified information and maintains his innocence.
Bail and Protective Order
The judge presiding over De Oliveira’s hearing will determine if bail is necessary for his release. De Oliveira was previously released on a $100,000 bond and has been ordered not to discuss the case with potential witnesses except through counsel. He is also restricted from traveling outside of South Florida without permission.
Judge Cannon, who is overseeing the case, will also decide on Trump’s request for a protective order. This order aims to prevent the former president from releasing any classified materials shared with his legal team. Trump has requested the establishment of a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) at Mar-a-Lago for discussions of classified information, arguing it would be more cost-effective. However, Smith’s team has opposed previous requests for Trump to review evidence at Mar-a-Lago or his New Jersey golf club.
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