Walt Nauta, an aide to former president Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a Miami federal court to several counts of mishandling classified material and conspiracy to obstruct justice, following Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictment.
Nauta was present when Trump appeared in court on June 13 – when the former president pleaded not guilty to 37 federal counts, including over two dozen violations of the Espionage Act – but was not arraigned at the time due to lack of legal representation.
Nauta did not speak to reporters outside the courthouse on Thursday following his arraignment.
Nauta was the only White House valet that left Washington D.C. for bound for the former president’s personal residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida after his electoral defeat in the 2020 election.
In September 2021, Nauta left the military to work as a personal aide to Trump at Mar-a-Lago. His salary was paid by Save America, a Trump political action committee, reportedly making $135,000 in 2022, according to the Washington Post.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows Nauta rearranging boxes in a storage room at Mar-a-Lago prior to and following the Department of Justice subpoena in May 2022 demanding the return of all classified documents.
A source told the Washington Post that Nauta initially denied moving the boxes of documents during an interview with the FBI but later said Trump told him to move the boxes during a second interview.
“I have just learned that the ‘Thugs’ from the Department of Injustice will be Indicting a wonderful man, Walt Nauta, a member of the U.S. Navy, who served proudly with me in the White House, retired as Senior Chief, and then transitioned into private life as a personal aide. He has done a fantastic job!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, in early June following the news.
“They are trying to destroy his life, like the lives of so many others, hoping that he will say bad things about ‘Trump,’” Trump said of Nauta. “He is strong, brave, and a Great Patriot. The FBI and DOJ are CORRUPT!”
Nauta’s legal bills are being paid by a Trump political organization, according to NBC News.