Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira has pleaded not guilty to charges connected with confidential documents found at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate last year.
De Oliveira appeared in court Tuesday, one day after authorities charged Trump with violating the Georgia’s RICO Act in an attempt to claim victory in the state, despite his 2020 presidential election loss to President Joe Biden, according to The Palm Beach Post and court records.
Tuesday’s court appearance marked his third after earlier proceedings were delayed to allow him time to find an attorney in Florida, CNN and The Associated Press reported. He appeared in court alongside Florida-based lawyer Donald Murrell, according to CBS News.
De Oliveira, who has been Mar-a-Lago’s property manager since January 2022, faces four charges, including conspiracy to obstruct justice and making false statements.
In an indictment last month, authorities accused De Oliveira of moving dozens of boxes at Mar-a-Lago, under Trump’s direction, after a grand jury subpoenaed classified records from the former president. The boxes contained documents and items that Trump had taken with him when he left the White House in January 2021, according to court records.
Later, after a grand jury sought security camera footage from Mar-a-Lago, De Oliveira told another employee “that ‘the boss’ wanted the server deleted,” officials said.
Trump and Nauta have also been charged as part of the investigation. Both have entered not-guilty pleas.
The front-runner in the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Trump has denied having done anything wrong and called the investigation and others focused on his conduct politically motivated.
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