The federal judge overseeing the classified documents case involving former President Donald J. Trump has denied an effort by one of his co-defendants, Walt Nauta, to have the charges against him dismissed. Nauta, who works as a personal aide to Mr. Trump, claimed that he was the victim of vindictive prosecution by the government.
Nauta’s lawyer argued that prosecutors had unfairly indicted him because he refused to testify against Mr. Trump in front of a grand jury. The lawyer also claimed that prosecutors had threatened to derail a judgeship that Nauta was seeking if he did not cooperate.
However, Judge Aileen M. Cannon ruled that there was no evidence to suggest that the charges against Nauta were brought to punish him for not providing testimony against Mr. Trump. She also noted that the law requires the government to be biased against the defendant, not the defendant’s client, in order for a vindictive prosecution claim to be valid.
The indictment in the documents case alleges that Nauta conspired with Mr. Trump to hide classified materials that the former president took from the White House to his private club and residence in Florida. The case was filed in Federal District Court in Fort Pierce, Fla., last June.
Overall, the judge’s decision to deny Nauta’s motion to dismiss the charges indicates that the legal proceedings will continue against him in relation to the classified documents case. Nauta will have to face the charges in court as the case moves forward.