Walt Nauta, a co-defendant of former President Donald Trump, was allegedly told he would be pardoned if he was ever charged with lying to the FBI, according to witness testimony in unsealed court documents.
The case in question revolves around how Trump handled classified documents once he stopped being president, according to the HuffPost.
Trump and Nauta, along with Carlos De Oliveira, have been charged with federal crimes in Florida, where the former president allegedly kept boxes of documents at his Mar-a-Lago club, per the outlet.
The witness, identified as “Person 16,” told FBI investigators Nauta had been promised a pardon if Trump was reelected in November. The witness was described as someone who worked in the Trump White House.
“NAUTA was told by FPOTUS’ [former president of the United States] people that his investigation was not going anywhere, that it was politically motivated and ‘much ado about nothing,’” according to a summary of the interview.
“NAUTA was also told that even if he gets charged with lying to the FBI, FPOTUS will pardon him in 2024.”
The former Trump valet has “since been charged with lying to the FBI and obstructing special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation,” per the outlet. Nauta has pleaded not guilty.
The interview also has Person 16 stating they were not aware of a standing order that documents taken from the White House would be automatically declassified, as Trump had said.
The witness also allegedly told to return all documents to the National Archives.
“Whatever you have,” the witness said, “give it all back.”
“Don’t give them a noble reason to indict you, because they will,” Person 16 said.
