Trump aide Walt Nauta's arraignment in Florida delayed until next month

The arraignment of Walt Nauta, an aide to Donald Trump who was indicted on federal criminal charges in connection with the former president's alleged mishandling of classified documents, has been delayed until next month in Miami federal court.

Nauta’s arraignment, which had been initially scheduled for Tuesday morning, was postponed until July 6.

Nauta’s attorney, Stan Woodward, told U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres, who presided over last week's hearing, that Nauta has been unable to obtain the local counsel necessary for an arraignment.

Torres granted the extension until July 6.

Nauta did not appear in court because of a canceled flight from Newark, New Jersey, and he was unable to book another flight to make the appearance, Woodward said.

Woodward said that he will file an appearance waiver in the meantime and that he does not expect Nauta to appear for the arraignment next month.

Nauta faces six charges, including conspiracy to obstruct, withholding a document or record and scheme to conceal, according to the federal indictment, which was unsealed this month.

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Nauta did not enter a plea when he appeared alongside Trump in court this month.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts, including making false statements, conspiracy to obstruct justice and willful retention of national defense information, stemming from more than 100 classified documents recovered from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last year, according to the indictment. 

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon set a tentative start date of mid-August for Trump’s trial in a court order unsealed last week. 

Special counsel Jack Smith has turned over the first batch of evidence in the case to Trump’s legal team, according to a court filing last week. Prosecutors said the documents include evidence obtained through subpoenas and search warrants; transcripts of grand jury testimony in Washington, D.C., and Florida; witness interviews conducted through last month; and excerpts of closed-circuit television video.

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In the filing, prosecutors indicated that Nauta has not yet received discovery materials but that they will provide them to his counsel once his appearance in the case is entered.

Nauta, a Trump aide from Guam who reached the Navy’s rank of senior chief culinary specialist in his 20 years of service, worked at the White House as part of the Presidential Food Service, which is a section within the White House Military Office. 

During Trump’s presidency, Nauta was one of two military valets who had close and direct daily contact with Trump for his personal needs, such as meals in the Oval Office and organizing his clothing for travel, a former senior Trump aide said. 

When Trump left the White House, Nauta was part of the post-presidency transition, serving for six more months while still in the Navy. Trump indicated in a social media post that at some point, Nauta “retired” from military service and “then transitioned into private life as a personal aide.”

Nauta has been seen traveling with Trump on many public trips and campaign stops and at Mar-a-Lago events. 

According to the indictment, Nauta was among the people, including Trump himself, who “packed items” from the White House for shipment to Florida. 

Prosecutors allege Nauta made false statements denying knowledge of the boxes and moved dozens of boxes at Trump’s direction after it was clear that the National Archives was seeking the return of government records.

The indictment indicated that Nauta was represented by counsel in his interview with the FBI, which was voluntary. It also asserts that Trump directed many of Nauta’s actions.