Jack Smith shows he has more up his sleeve
If you’ve done nothing wrong, you have no need to lie. If you do feel the need to lie, something is wrong. Such is the case in the Donald Trump classified documents case. Media has literally been blowing up with reports about Yuscil Taveras, the IT worker identified in the superseding indictment as “Trump Employee 4.” Even though he had not been charged, Taveras was represented by Stanley Woodward, who is also representing Walt Nauta.
The Special Counsel’s prosecutors deemed this representation a conflict of interest (and it was), and Taveras accepted the court’s offer of a federal public defender. As soon as the process was complete, he changed his testimony. Woodward is one of several lawyers who are being compensated by Trump’s PAC, and as the Washington Post wrote: If Trump is paying them, they are Trump’s lawyers. This is a clear case of Trump trying to prevent his employees from flipping on him, even to their own detriment. Taveras obviously figured that out and hopped off the train before it crashed and burned.
In his newly revised testimony, Taveras gave prosecutors information that implicates Nauta, de Oliveira, and Donald Trump in efforts to destroy surveillance footage. Every new thing that comes out in this case points directly to Trump’s obstruction. What he had planned for the documents remains a mystery. He must have been looking to either sell those documents or hand them over to someone for favors. Who knows? Right now, Trump’s intent is irrelevant in the sense that the case is about his obstruction, though we will likely learn more about his intent as the case proceeds.
CNN detailed that Taveras initially lied about efforts to delete the security footage and was being investigated for lying to the grand jury, but he will now get immunity. Taveras has shed new light on both Nauta’s and de Oliveira’s testimony. Politico reported that Taveras “flipped” and incriminated not only Nauta and de Oliveira but also Donald Trump. This is how criminals behave, and the Special Counsel knows that. Once they advised Taveras that he would face criminal prosecution for lying, as Politico reported, Taveras “immediately … retracted his prior false testimony” and told prosecutors about attempts to tamper with the surveillance equipment. De Oliviera, more so than Nauta, is likely wishing he had flipped first. Now, both will not only face perjury charges, but they are part of the conspiracy to obstruct the government.
Why anyone in his or her right mind would lie for Donald Trump is puzzling. He has no loyalty to anyone, and he certainly has none to his paid employees. Yet, they stuck their necks out and put their lives on the line for him. This will not end well for them. Taveras’s “change of heart,” if you will, is included in the Special Counsel’s reply brief, requesting a Garcia hearing, which will address Judge Cannon’s claims of impropriety with respect to the D.C. grand jury that continued to investigate this case. Judge Cannon continues to show her ineptitude to preside over this case, as she obviously doesn’t understand how complex investigations such as this work.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years