FL - Former President Donald Trump indicted, 40 counts, classified documents and obstruction of justice, June 2023, Trial May 2024 #2

[Inthedetails]

Re the SCIF: I guess some of the documents in question are classified or sensitive and can't be reviewed outside a SCIF.

And the defendant and his attorneys have an apparent need to review them as a part of the case (though I'm not sure I understand why -- the content of the documents isn't the point, but their status as classified and how they were taken/kept/treated by the defendant is)

Anyway, assuming he does have a valid legal need to look at classified docs for this case, why not park a mobile SCIF at Mar-A-Lago? That way it could drive away after the case is complete, rather than providing him free* remodeling services.

* I say free because even if he agrees to pay for it, we all know the chances of him paying that bill is near zero.

I'm not for it because Mar-a-Lago is the scene of the crime. I think classified docs should remain away from the scene and his home turf.

If the defendant is inconvenienced, well, bummer. Most defendants don't find the process convenient.

jmo

 

[Niner]

Do you remember the first case you followed?

It was Jon Benet. I was following over at Tricia's old forum - Justice for JonBenet - but that could be the wrong name of it.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I can just imagine if the court was at Mar-a-Lago.

I bet he would act like he's in control of the whole thing, ordering everyone about, even court officials.

I wouldn't even be suprised if he charged a fee for the court being there, and using his premises. A RULY BIG fee.

He'd be so full of himself. He'd go full boss.

 

[Inthedetails]

I can just imagine if the court was at Mar-a-Lago.

I bet he would act like he's in control of the whole thing, ordering everyone about, even court officials.

I wouldn't even be suprised if he charged a fee for the court being there, and using his premises. A RULY BIG fee.

He'd be so full of himself. He'd go full boss.

Somebody in his circle needs to say that the emperor has no votes.

jmo

 

[Stunned]

I guess if he didn't commit so many crimes, he wouldn't be double-booked for courtrooms in multiple jurisdictions.

Moo.

I’ve never had that problem! But remember, he’s doing it for them! He sure isn’t being gracious about it though!

 

[thefragile7393]

What does he think he is, a king holding court or something

I mean....yes....

 

[Niner]

Updated 8/18/23.

FL – Classified Papers.
Friday, 8/25/23 – Motions hearing on Section 3- CANCELLED by Judge
Thursday, 9/7/23 - Initial production of classified Discovery
Thursday, 9/14/23 – Status hearing (Joint Discovery status report & Government's CIPA Section 10 Notice)
Tuesday, 10/10/23 - Government's CIPA Section 4 Motion (ex parte) & any defense challenge to Section 4 filing.
Monday, 12/11/23 – Sealed motions hearing re Section 3.
Thursday, 4/11/24 – Motions hearing
Wednesday, 4/17/24 – Motions hearing
Tuesday, 5/14/24 – Jury selection begins
Monday, 5/20/24 – Trial set to begin

 

[MamaSleuth5]

Today is my 20th year on WS!

@Niner Happy Websleuths birthday! Thank you for all the valuable work you do! JonBenet was my first case here too, long before I even registered.

On this case, MOO but I think having a SCIF at Mar-a-Lago would not be awesome JMO

 

[vls12345]

Not sure why the idea of a SCIF at Mar-a-Lago is even being condidered. It's the crime scene + the defendant's home turf.

Shouldn't even be considered.

Imo.

 

[sds71]

Appearing to contradict former President Donald Trump's primary public defense in the classified documents case, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has told special counsel Jack Smith's investigators that he could not recall Trump ever ordering, or even discussing, declassifying broad sets of classified materials before leaving the White House, nor was he aware of any "standing order" from Trump authorizing the automatic declassification of materials taken out of the Oval Office, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News…


ABC News has also reviewed an early draft of the prologue to Meadows' book, "The Chiefs' Chief," about his time serving as Trump's chief of staff for the final months of the Trump White House, which includes a description of Trump having a classified war plan "on the couch" at his office in Bedminster, New Jersey, at a meeting attended by Meadows' ghostwriter and publicist, but not by Meadows himself. The reference to that document being in Trump's possession was removed before the book was published.

Multiple sources tell ABC News Meadows acknowledged to investigators that he asked that the paragraph be changed, and that it would be "problematic" had Trump had such a document in his possession. Sources tell ABC News that Meadows told special counsel investigators that he did not discuss making those edits with Trump…

Meadows told special counsel he could not recall Trump ever declassifying Mar-a-Lago docs: Sources

Mark Meadows has told investigators he could not recall President Trump ever ordering the declassification of broad sets of materials before leaving office, sources say.

abcnews.go.com

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 20, 2023

Pence says he has no knowledge of ‘broad-based effort’ by Trump to declassify documents

Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday he was not made aware of any “broad-based effort to declassify documents,” by former President Trump, knocking down a key defense by Trump in which he d…

thehill.com

[...]

Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday he was not made aware of any “broad-based effort to declassify documents,” by former President Trump, knocking down a key defense by Trump in which he denies that he mishandled and hoarded sensitive information after he left the White House.

[...]

The GOP presidential contender’s comments come as ABC News reported Sunday that former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told federal investigators probing the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case that he did not recall Trump ever ordering or discussing de-classifying documents.

The network reported that when the documents were first requested by the National Archives, Meadows offered to help Trump go through the boxes he had taken from the White House to find and return official records. Sources told ABC News Meadows said Trump did not accept the offer.

[...]

 

[sds71]

Jack Smith tells Judge Cannon that a witness in Trump's documents case retracted false testimony after switching lawyers.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.129.0.pdf

 

[Inthedetails]

Jack Smith tells Judge Cannon that a witness in Trump's documents case retracted false testimony after switching lawyers.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.129.0.pdf

From the link:

"On July 5, 2023, Trump Employee 4 informed Chief Judge Boasberg that he no longer wished to be represented by Mr. Woodward and that, going forward, he wished to be represented by the First Assistant Federal Defender. Immediately after receiving new counsel, Trump Employee 4 retracted his prior false testimony and provided information that implicated Nauta, De Oliveira, and Trump in efforts to delete security camera footage, as set forth in the superseding indictment."

 

[MyBelle]

Jack Smith tells Judge Cannon that a witness in Trump's documents case retracted false testimony after switching lawyers.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.129.0.pdf

I think Judge Cannon's bigger question is why there is still a grand jury in D.C. for the same case that has resulted in a Florida indictment.

Trump Lawyers Use Jack Smith’s Secret Grand Jury Against Him

Jack Smith’s parallel investigation into Trump may come back to bite him.

www.thedailybeast.com

Trumpworld lawyers are trying to flip the script in the Mar-a-Lago case, citing “potential grand jury abuse” over the way Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith keeps running what appears to be a parallel investigation in Washington.

And unlike other defense delay tactics, this one could actually affect the Department of Justice’s criminal case against former President Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents and hoarding them at his oceanside Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida.

Smith now faces increasing pressure from U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, who was appointed by Trump himself and has already ruled heavily in his favor despite all odds.

“She’s asking questions which are legitimate to be asked,” said University of Missouri law school professor emeritus Frank Bowman. “Although I’ve been pretty critical of previous rulings by Judge Cannon in this case—which are so bad as to have been absolutely inexplicable—nonetheless, at least at this point, there’s nothing untoward in her asking for some explanation of what special counsel’s up to.”

 

[sds71]

I think Judge Cannon's bigger question is why there is still a grand jury in D.C. for the same case that has resulted in a Florida indictment.

Trump Lawyers Use Jack Smith’s Secret Grand Jury Against Him

Jack Smith’s parallel investigation into Trump may come back to bite him.

www.thedailybeast.com

Trumpworld lawyers are trying to flip the script in the Mar-a-Lago case, citing “potential grand jury abuse” over the way Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith keeps running what appears to be a parallel investigation in Washington.

And unlike other defense delay tactics, this one could actually affect the Department of Justice’s criminal case against former President Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents and hoarding them at his oceanside Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida.

Smith now faces increasing pressure from U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, who was appointed by Trump himself and has already ruled heavily in his favor despite all odds.

“She’s asking questions which are legitimate to be asked,” said University of Missouri law school professor emeritus Frank Bowman. “Although I’ve been pretty critical of previous rulings by Judge Cannon in this case—which are so bad as to have been absolutely inexplicable—nonetheless, at least at this point, there’s nothing untoward in her asking for some explanation of what special counsel’s up to.”

The D.C. grand jury finished last week.

 

[musicaljoke]

From the link:

"On July 5, 2023, Trump Employee 4 informed Chief Judge Boasberg that he no longer wished to be represented by Mr. Woodward and that, going forward, he wished to be represented by the First Assistant Federal Defender. Immediately after receiving new counsel, Trump Employee 4 retracted his prior false testimony and provided information that implicated Nauta, De Oliveira, and Trump in efforts to delete security camera footage, as set forth in the superseding indictment."

Is someone not paying this Employee's legal fees after all? I hope that there is no implication that the lawyer was suggesting his/her client give a false testimony.

 

[MyBelle]

The D.C. grand jury finished last week.

It will be interesting to see what indictments, if any, come out of it.

JMO

 

[SouthAussie]

Jack Smith tells Judge Cannon that a witness in Trump's documents case retracted false testimony after switching lawyers.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654/gov.uscourts.flsd.648654.129.0.pdf

Yuscil Taveras, the director of information technology at Mar-a-Lago, changed his testimony in July regarding efforts to delete security camera footage at Trump’s Florida club after changing from a lawyer paid for by Trump’s Save America PAC to a public defender, according to Tuesday's filing.

The filing identifies Taveras as “Trump Employee 4.” NBC News previously reported that Taveras is employee No. 4.

Taveras is at least the second person to offer new testimony after switching from an attorney with ties to Trump. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, gave investigators from the House Jan. 6 committee more damaging testimony about Trump and Meadows' conduct in the leadup to the Capitol riot after parting ways with her first Trump-allied lawyer.

A key witness in the Trump classified docs case changed his testimony after switching lawyers, special counsel says

The man identified as "Trump Employee 4" had been represented by Stanley Woodward, who was being paid by the former president's Save America PAC.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[vls12345]

Glad some of these folks are getting attorneys who are not compromised by being paid for by the former guy or his PAC. Interesting how statements do a 180....

Imo.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Aileen Cannon faces huge test after Yuscil Taveras flips on Trump

Former prosecutor Joyce Vance said judge overseeing classified documents case must hold potential conflict of interest hearing for lawyers of co-defendants.

www.newsweek.com

The judge overseeing Donald Trump's classified documents case should hold a hearing to discuss potential conflicts of interest among the lawyers involved in the proceedings, after a Mar-a-Lago employee flipped on the former president, a legal expert has said.

Legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance was reacting to news that Yuscil Taveras, an IT director at Trump's Florida resort, has retracted "his prior false testimony" and now says the former president and two others charged in the classified documents case, Trump aide Walt Nauta and maintenance worker Carlos De Oliveira, did take steps to delete security camera footage that had been sought by federal prosecutors.

Trump, Nauta and De Oliveira have pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them in the classified documents case, including obstruction allegations.

Key Witness Implicates Trump In Classified Documents Case After Recanting False Testimony

A witness identified in the indictment as the director of information technology at Mar-a-Lago recanted a prior false testimony after changing lawyers.

www.forbes.com