CNN’s primetime coverage on Thursday centered around what was presented as an “exclusive” report on former President Donald Trump’s upcoming federal trial in Florida. The report focused on potential witnesses, including Mar-a-Lago staff and contract workers, who federal prosecutors may call to testify against Trump and his co-defendants.
The central theme of the report, as outlined by special counsel Jack Smith, revolves around Trump’s alleged willful retention of classified materials and subsequent efforts to obstruct the government from retrieving them after leaving office. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The CNN report highlighted the possibility of individuals like a woodworker, maid, plumber, and chauffeur being called as witnesses in the trial. These individuals, according to sources cited by CNN, may have observed or interacted with materials relevant to the case during their work at Mar-a-Lago.
For instance, the woodworker reportedly installed crown molding in Trump’s bedroom and noticed papers, potentially classified, though the extent of his understanding remained unclear. The maid who cleaned Trump’s suite, the plumber with years of work experience at Mar-a-Lago, and several maintenance workers were also mentioned as potential witnesses.
The report further detailed an inquiry into a chauffeur who provided information about influential individuals, including foreigners, who visited Mar-a-Lago as VIP guests. The report suggested that individuals such as Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt might also be called as witnesses.
A plumber, a maid, a chauffeur and a woodworker are among Mar-a-Lago staffers and contract workers who federal prosecutors may call to testify against former President Donald Trump and his two co-defendants at their upcoming criminal trial in Florida, according to multiple people familiar with the investigation.
The story goes on to recount hazy details about some of the aforementioned workers at Mar-a-Lago. For example:
A woodworker from south Florida, for instance, installed crown molding in Trump’s bedroom in February 2022 and noticed papers, according to three sources who spoke with CNN about what he told investigators. While the stack of papers he saw may have been classified, it wasn’t entirely clear to the woodworker what he had noticed strewn about the property.
Regarding the maid and the plumber:
A maid who cleaned Trump’s suite, a plumber who has worked at the property a few days a week for years, and several other maintenance workers are also among the potential witnesses, the sources said.
As for the chauffeur:
A chauffeur was asked by investigators about powerful business-people, including foreigners, who had visited the club as VIP guests, according to one source. For instance, the chauffeur described ferrying around Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, who could also be called as a witness.
The FBI’s execution of a search warrant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in August 2022, resulting in the discovery of government documents in various locations on the property, was highlighted. The charges also extend to Carlos de Oliveira, Mar-a-Lago’s property manager, and Walt Nauta, Trump’s White House valet, who continued working for him after leaving office. Yuscil Taveras, a Mar-a-Lago information technology worker, is cooperating with the investigation.
While the CNN report emphasized the potential testimony of Mar-a-Lago employees, it also mentioned other likely witnesses, such as Trump’s Secret Service agents, former intelligence officials, and individuals who were present when Trump made references to a military document about potential plans to bomb Iran.
While some of the witnesses who may be called to testify hail from Trump’s inner circle, including his career in business, as a political candidate and from his time in the White House, other potential witnesses are the types of workers rarely noticed by Mar-a-Lago’s wealthy guests, according to the sources.
Other likely witnesses also include Trump Secret Service agents, former intelligence officials, as well as people who were in the room with Trump when he was captured on multiple audio recordings referencing a military document about potential plans to bomb Iran, according to the sources.
However, the report was criticized for using terms like “may” and “likely witnesses,” which some argued did not bring new information to light, given the known facts of the case. It emphasized that the likelihood of Mar-a-Lago employees testifying had already been anticipated, especially considering Trump’s not guilty plea and his decision to face trial by jury.
