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Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team has acknowledged that they failed to comply with the legal requirement of turning over evidence in the classified documents case involving former President Donald Trump.
It was discovered by the prosecutors that video evidence had not been processed and uploaded to the defense platform when they were preparing to indict Carlos De Oliveira, the manager of Mar-a-Lago, for alleged conspiracy with Trump to delete surveillance footage from the estate.
This admission highlights an incorrect representation made by the Government during the July 18 hearing, where they claimed to have produced all pre-indictment surveillance footage, which was found to be inaccurate.
According to the ‘Brady rule’, prosecutors are obligated to disclose any evidence and information that might favor the defendant. The prosecutors reported that they have now provided all CCTV footage obtained by the government to the defendants, as required.
In response to the additional charges filed against him in the classified documents case, Trump expressed strong criticism towards Jack Smith and indicted yet another person connected to him.
Smith recently filed a revised indictment against Trump, bringing forth new charges related to the willful retention of national defense information and obstruction.
The prosecutors contend that Trump and his aides instructed a Mar-a-Lago staff member to deliberately delete security camera footage, implying an intention to prevent its presentation to a federal grand jury.
However, Trump vehemently denied these allegations and emphasized that his legal team handed over all requested security footage without any alterations. Trump took to TRUTH Social, stating that the Mar-a-Lago security tapes were not deleted and were willingly given to Jack Smith’s team.
He criticized the prosecution as ‘fiction and misconduct’ and likened the allegations to the ‘Russia, Russia, Russia hoax.’ Trump further stated that accusations are fabricated, and he is dealing with malevolent individuals involved in election interference.
Details mentioned in court documents, as reported by The Epoch Times, suggest that a Mar-a-Lago employee named Carlos De Olivera informed another staff member about a server that the ‘boss’ wanted ‘deleted’ on June 27, 2022.
This communication allegedly occurred two months prior to an FBI raid at Trump’s residence, during which documents were discovered in a storage area.
Trump’s attorney Alina Habba dismissed any notion of obstruction of justice in a Fox News interview, emphasizing that no tapes were deleted and that Trump cooperated fully.
In a future court appearance, Trump’s legal team will demonstrate that all requested videos and surveillance tapes were indeed turned over. Habba expressed confidence in Trump’s compliance and ethical behavior, emphasizing that he always cooperates fully with the legal process.
Meanwhile, Jack Smith has indicted Trump once again, this time relating to the investigation into the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. This marks the second federal indictment Trump faces as a result of Smith’s investigation.
Currently leading the 2024 GOP presidential primary field, Trump has already pled not guilty to 37 counts associated with the alleged improper retention of classified records from his presidency.
Trump is facing multiple charges in the ongoing probe, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements.
Furthermore, he was indicted on three additional counts issued last week as part of a superseding indictment in connection with the same investigation.
