Mar-a-Lago chief of maintenance Carlos De Oliveira arrived in federal court in Miami on Monday to face charges of conspiracy in connection with the investigation of former President Donald Trump’s classified documents.
He walked into court Monday morning for a hearing and put on a grim expression days after his name appeared in a substitute indictment accusing him, Trump and fellow aide Walt Nauta of conspiring to remove server footage from boxes of equipment at the Florida private club .
Little is known about the assistant, 56, although a neighbor said he is “not a crook.”
He faces four charges in the latest criminal indictment, which has grown to 40 charges, including lying to investigators and “corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating or concealing any document, file or other object,” along with the charge of conspiracy.
He has been with the club for ten years and was promoted to his position last year.
Carlos De Oliveira, personal assistant to former US President Donald Trump and chief of maintenance at Mar-a-Lago, arrived in federal court in Miami. He is charged with conspiracy to obstruct an investigation of classified documents
Oliveira’s landlord, Tiberio Almeida, said he moved from Portugal to Massachusetts and then to Florida more than 30 years ago. His promotion came after impressing his boss by redoing ornate metalwork on club doors, according to The Washington Post.
After Monday’s hearing, he was released on $100,000 bail and did not enter a plea.
A replacement indictment filed by prosecutors last week charged him with conspiracy to remove security footage from boxes of documents in Mar-a-Lago after a grand jury subpoena sought their return.
The indictment cites that he communicated with another club employee about the security footage, telling him that “the boss” wants it removed.
His court appearance came as Yuscil Taveras – the head of IT at Mar-a-Lago who is referred to in the indictment as receiving the request – was found to have received a ‘target’ letter in the investigation.
The statement from federal prosecutors came after former President Donald Trump was indicted in June. CNN reported.
Trump himself received such a letter this month. It can indicate the likelihood that someone is about to face charges in an investigation — or give a subject the opportunity to defend themselves against prosecutors early.
It was not known if Taveras is cooperating with prosecutors in their extensive investigation. But the superseding suit filed by Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office last week refers to Mar-a-Lago’s head of IT, “Employee 4,” questioning whether he had “the right” to wipe security servers when he pitched the idea. .
His landlord, Tiberio Almeida, said he moved from Portugal to Massachusetts more than 30 years ago and then moved to Florida
De Oliveira is being represented by a Virginia attorney who has done work for a Trump PAC, to the tune of $200,000
De Oliveira arrived with his lawyer John Irving (L), amid a flurry of media attention
De Oliveira has been with the club for ten years and was promoted to head of maintenance last year
Yuscil Taveras, head of IT at Mar-a-Lago, received a ‘target’ letter from prosecutors but has not been charged
The indictment quotes De Oliveira telling an employee that “the boss” wants a server wiped, during a period following a grand jury subpoena requesting the return of materials
The head of maintenance at the club, Carlos De Oliveira, is being charged along with Trump and assistant Waltine Nauta in a replacement charge
Prosecutors appear to have obtained text information via mobile phones about various figures at the club after interviewing multiple club employees, citing De Oliveira as making the request.
The indictment has De Oliveira question Employee 4 in an audio box at the club and say that “the boss” wanted the server “deleted” — likely referring to Trump, who had personal phone calls with De Oliveira.
“Trump Associate 4 responded that he wouldn’t know how to do that, and that he didn’t believe he would have the rights to do that,” the indictment reads.
De Oliveira, along with former Trump aide and former White House clerk Walt Nauta, are charged with conspiracy to obstruct the FBI and a grand jury investigation into deliberately withholding classified information.
Trump and Nauta have pleaded not guilty. De Oliveira is expected to appear in court on Monday. Trump, who continues to dominate Republican presidential polls, called any investigations against him a witch hunt.
Ty Cobb, who represented Trump when he was in the White House, said he expected Trump himself to be charged in a separate case related to efforts to overturn the election this week.
He said prosecutors were like artists and the latest indictment was like a “Michelangelo.”
“The new charges are very important,” he said NPRand it wouldn’t take long to appear in court.
Trump’s lawyers “have no defense against it,” since much of the information is on tape.
“The simple reality is he has to win to avoid going to jail,” Cobb said.