Walt Nauta, a personal aide to former President Donald Trump who stands accused of assisting in the mishandling of classified documents and providing false statements to investigators, continues to keep close company with Trump. This association persists despite a judge's directive prohibiting discussions about the ongoing legal proceedings. The evidence is revealed in photographs obtained by Daily Mail.
The two men were spotted together in South Philadelphia this past Friday, indulging in cheesesteaks at the renowned Pat's King of Steaks. Trump was in the city for the Moms for Liberty Summit in Center City, where fellow Republican political figures such as Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were present.
After his public appearance, Trump headed to Pat's where he enjoyed the classic "whiz wit" cheesesteak, complete with Cheez Whiz and fried onions. The surprise wasn't the meal, but the continued presence of Nauta, a former navy veteran and currently employed by the prospective 2024 presidential candidate.
Nauta, a 40-year-old originally from Guam, is facing six charges, including conspiracy and false statement offenses. The most severe accusation could land him in prison for up to 20 years. Meanwhile, Trump himself is grappling with 37 counts, including obstruction of justice and willful retention of national defense information.
The ongoing proximity of the two, despite U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman's order restricting case-related discussions, is intriguing. It might indicate that Nauta has no plans to betray Trump, a tactic many analysts have predicted could result in a reduced sentence.
Nauta’s changing testimonies to federal investigators prior to the indictment are expected to play a pivotal role in the Department of Justice prosecution, according to several insiders. Initially, when questioned by the FBI in 2022, Nauta denied awareness of confidential documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. Later, however, he conceded that he had transported boxes of such documents under Trump's orders.
Surveillance footage from Mar-a-Lago reveals Nauta moving the boxes of classified documents, affirming his admission. This critical evidence arrived following a subpoena to Trump, demanding the return of all classified documentation.
A source confirmed, "The video is crucial to the prosecution case because it seemingly corroborates Nauta's account of moving boxes after the subpoena was issued."
Trump, prior to the unveiling of the 49-page indictment, had accused the Justice Department of attempting to ruin Nauta's life, expressing his support for the aide through his Truth Social platform.
As earlier reported by Radar Online, Trump appears to be covering Nauta's legal fees indirectly through one of his political action committees, reinforcing his belief that Nauta will remain loyal.