Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP / Getty Images
The Justice Department has dropped its case against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, former co-defendants of President Donald Trump, in the classified documents investigation. The decision was announced on Wednesday (January 29) and marks the end of the legal proceedings against the two men, who were accused of helping Trump obstruct an investigation into classified documents stored at Mar-a-Lago after his first term.
The case was initially brought by former special counsel Jack Smith, who charged Nauta and De Oliveira with obstructing justice and making false statements. However, the case was dismissed last summer by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional. The Justice Department had appealed the dismissal but has now decided to withdraw the appeal, effectively ending the case.
The dismissal of the case comes after the Justice Department dropped charges against Trump himself following his election win in November, citing a policy that sitting presidents cannot be indicted. The department's decision to abandon the case against Nauta and De Oliveira removes any remaining legal peril for the two men.