Trump denies ordering deletion of Mar-a-Lago protection tapes

Rachel Schilke

July 30, 10:12 AM July 30, 10:12 AM

Former President Donald Trump right denied that he requested security tapes at Mar-a-Lago to be deleted, soon after distinctive counsel Jack Smith attached a few new costs to the now 40-rely federal indictment similar to Trump's dealing with of labeled documents.

Smith dropped the additional costs of obstruction of justice on Thursday night. The previous president adamantly denied on Sunday early morning that he asked any members of his workforce to get rid of video clips from the tapes at his Florida house.

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"MAR-A-LAGO Protection TAPES Ended up NOT DELETED. THEY Were being VOLUNTARILY HANDED In excess of TO THE THUGS, HEADED UP BY DERANGED JACK SMITH. WE DID NOT EVEN GO TO Court docket TO End THEM FROM Acquiring THESE TAPES. I Under no circumstances Told Anyone TO DELETE THEM. PROSECUTORIAL FICTION & MISCONDUCT! ELECTION INTERFERENCE!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

Smith's new costs versus Trump stem from allegations that Trump aide Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, a Mar-a-Lago servicing employee, attempted to delete security footage that investigators sought from the vacation resort.

De Oliveria allegedly explained to another staff that "the manager" needed the server "deleted" on June 27, 2022, a lot less than two months just before the FBI raid that recovered hundreds of categorized files in Trump's storage room and other parts of the estate.

Trump mentioned on Friday that his crew turned around the tapes to the Justice Section, stating, "I am not even positive what they are declaring."

The previous president is predicted to stand trial for the categorized documents situation in Could 2024. He is also experiencing a prospective looming indictment from Smith's 2nd investigation into Trump's actions in the course of and immediately after the 2020 election, as effectively as feasible felony prices out of a Georgia special grand jury investigation.

Trump is also struggling with a condition legal indictment in New York for hush-money payments in the course of the 2016 marketing campaign.