Trump Resort Employees May Testify in Trial Over Document Allegations, Sources Reveal
Former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants may face testimony from Mar-a-Lago staff and contract workers, including a plumber, maid, chauffeur, and woodworker These witnesses could provide eye-witness accounts regarding the busy club and Mar-a-Lago's social network
Multiple individuals with knowledge of the investigation have disclosed that federal prosecutors may summon a plumber, a maid, a chauffeur, and a woodworker, who are part of the Mar-a-Lago staff and contracted employees, as witnesses during the forthcoming criminal trial in Florida involving former President Donald Trump and his two co-defendants. CNN has obtained detailed information on the approach taken by prosecutors in building their case against Trump with regard to his mishandling of classified documents discovered at Mar-a-Lago.
While some witnesses who may testify have close ties to Trump, such as being part of his inner circle during his business career, political campaign, and time in the White House, there are also other potential witnesses who typically go unnoticed by the affluent guests of Mar-a-Lago, sources revealed.
In addition to Trump's Secret Service agents and former intelligence officials, there are individuals who were present with him when recorded audio clips surfaced, wherein he made references to a military document discussing possible plans to bomb Iran, as per insider information.
However, if the low-level workers at Mar-a-Lago were summoned to testify, they could provide the public with a deeper understanding of the exclusive club and Trump's handling of sensitive national security information since his departure. It is worth noting that some of these workers are still employed at Mar-a-Lago.
Presently, the trial is scheduled to commence in Florida in May, well ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Nevertheless, Aileen Cannon, the federal judge presiding over the case, is contemplating the possibility of postponing the trial until after the election. This decision could potentially prevent the disclosure of Trump's actions until after voters have cast their ballots.
Prosecutors could utilize these witnesses to elucidate to the jury the unregulated atmosphere overseen by Trump following his departure from the White House. These potential witnesses have already provided extensive accounts to federal investigators regarding the security measures at the Mar-a-Lago resort, such as the storage of document boxes and the visibility and accessibility of said boxes to visitors.
The special counsel's office spokesperson declined to comment on this matter, while a spokesperson for Trump did not provide an immediate response to CNN's request for comment.
Eye-witness accounts
Some of the witnesses told investigators what they saw at Mar-a-Lago caught their attention and seemed unusual, out-of-place or potentially suspicious.
In February 2022, a woodworker from south Florida installed crown molding in Trump's bedroom. During the installation, the woodworker noticed a stack of papers, according to three sources who spoke with CNN and discussed the matter with investigators. Although the papers may have been classified, it wasn't entirely clear to the woodworker what exactly he had noticed scattered around the property. A source familiar with the investigation stated that the woodworker believed he saw something but was uncertain about its nature, eventually speculating that it might be a movie prop.
In addition to that, the potential witnesses include a maid responsible for cleaning Trumps suite, a plumber who has been working at the property a few days a week for many years, and several other maintenance workers, according to sources. It should be noted that prosecutors might not call all of these workers as witnesses, as some of them may not have noticed any boxes or papers on the property. However, the June indictment by special counsel Jack Smith emphasized the lax security at the Mar-a-Lago complex after visitors enter, which is a focal point that prosecutors intend to emphasize to the jury.
According to the indictment, Mar-a-Lago functioned as a bustling social club, organizing numerous events for its extensive membership and guests from January 2021 to August 2022. These events ranged from movie premieres and weddings to fundraisers. Inquiries made by investigators involved an interview with a chauffeur who disclosed information about influential figures, both domestic and international, who visited the club as VIP guests. Notably, the chauffeur specifically mentioned Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, who may potentially be summoned as a witness.
Pratt's representative has been contacted by CNN to inquire about the visit he made to Mar-a-Lago after Trump's presidency. During this visit, sources reveal that the former president disclosed sensitive information about US nuclear submarines to Pratt. This information had been previously reported by ABC News. It should be noted that this incident is not among the charges involving Trump's mishandling of national security information.
A busy club
According to the June indictment, Mar-a-Lago features a variety of amenities including 25 guest rooms, two ballrooms, a spa, a gift store, offices, and a pool and exercise facilities. Over 150 individuals, ranging from temporary employees to full-time staff, were observed in the vicinity.
That setting is likely to come to life through witness testimony at the trial.
This image, obtained from the US Department of Justice, displays classified intelligence materials discovered during a search conducted at Mar-a-Lago. The left side exhibits a Sligh Furniture filing cabinet, while the right side showcases the cover of the March 4, 2019 issue of Time magazine.
Prosecutors argue that, following January 2021, the club became an unauthorized location for the storage, possession, review, display, or discussion of classified documents. Consequently, the presence of individuals without security clearances posed a significant national security risk.
Trump faces charges relating to the mishandling of 32 national security records, the majority of which are classified. These records were retained by Trump after his presidency and were primarily stored in boxes at Mar-a-Lago. Additionally, he is accused of collaborating with his codefendants, Walt Nauta (his body man) and Carlos De Oliveira (a valet turned-property manager at the club), in an attempt to conceal some of the boxes from the federal government and erase security footage showing their movement.
Mar-a-Lago social network
Prosecutors have publicly revealed a number of potential witnesses in the ongoing court proceedings, which include a receptionist employed at the club, the maintenance department's director, and a personal assistant to Trump.
CNN has identified several potential witnesses who are long-time employees of Trump properties in South Florida. These individuals heard about attempts to delete security footage through word-of-mouth. Despite the ongoing investigation, many current and former club employees stay in touch and inform each other about updates related to the FBI search of the resort that took place in August 2022. Prior to the search, federal investigators approached some of them for initial interviews, and later on, they were asked to participate in additional interviews with prosecutors and testify before a grand jury.
The former president, who winters at the Mar-a-Lago property in Florida and often poses for photos with club guests, became extremely angry when federal investigators delved into the payroll records. According to a source, Trump's reaction was described as "ballistic" when investigators approached the maid responsible for cleaning his bedroom suite.
An aerial view of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate is seen Aug. 10, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla.
Steve Helber/AP
According to two sources familiar with the matter, Yuscil Taveras, a key witness identified as "Trump Employee 4" in the indictment, recently resigned from his position as the director of IT at the club as the South Floridas winter season opening day approached. It was publicly disclosed that Taveras received a favorable deal from prosecutors in exchange for his cooperation. However, Taveras' continued employment at the club after his separation from a lawyer provided by Trump earlier this summer was unknown to the former president, which displeased him upon learning this information, according to the sources.
An attorney for Taveras declined to comment.
