Federal Prosecutor Denies Allegations of Misconduct in Trump Classified Documents Case

In a Fort Pierce, Florida federal court, prosecutor David Harbach strongly refuted claims of vindictive prosecution and prosecutorial misconduct made by Stanley Woodward, the lawyer representing Walt Nauta, one of Donald Trump’s co-defendants in the classified documents case. Harbach labeled the allegations as “garbage” and “fantasy,” responding to Woodward’s argument that Nauta was indicted in retaliation for not cooperating with the government. Harbach was particularly critical of claims that another prosecutor had attempted to pressure Woodward by mentioning his judgeship application during a meeting.
During the proceedings before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, Harbach dismissed Woodward’s recounting of the meeting with prosecutor Jay Bratt as inaccurate, asserting that even if the events occurred as described, they would not constitute vindictive prosecution. Judge Cannon, at one point, had to ask Harbach to calm down due to his agitated state.
Woodward stood by his account, indicating his willingness to testify under oath about the meeting. The hearing also touched on a separate motion by Nauta to dismiss the charges against all three defendants—Trump, Nauta, and Carlos De Oliveira, a property manager at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate—citing alleged procedural failures in the indictment. Judge Cannon has not yet made a ruling on either motion.
The case, which involves Trump facing dozens of felony counts, including willful retention of national defense information and conspiracy to obstruct justice, was initially set to go to trial soon. However, Judge Cannon, a Trump appointee, has indefinitely delayed the trial date to address a variety of legal issues, including the motions to dismiss. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which also involve making false statements to federal investigators and plotting to delete subpoenaed security footage from Mar-a-Lago.