Newly unsealed court filings in a federal classified documents investigation have revealed that former President Donald Trump allegedly offered a pardon to his valet, Walt Nauta, if he was charged with lying to the FBI. The information comes from notes of an interview with a witness, identified as 'Person 16,' who worked in Trump's White House.
The witness's interview summary, given to the FBI in November 2022, stated that Nauta was informed by 'FPOTUS' people that his investigation was politically motivated and that Trump would pardon him in 2024 even if he was charged with lying to the FBI. Nauta and Trump have both pleaded not guilty to charges of obstruction and mishandling of classified information.
It remains unclear how the witness learned of the alleged pardon offer, as they had not spoken to Nauta since Trump's time in the White House. The witness, who visited Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate multiple times post-presidency, reportedly advised Trump to return any materials to the National Archives to avoid potential indictments.
In August 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago to retrieve classified material. Nauta's attorney declined to comment on the matter, while Trump's attorneys have not responded to inquiries regarding the alleged pardon offer.
This latest development adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings involving Trump and his associates, highlighting the potential use of presidential pardons as a means of influencing investigations and legal outcomes.
