Mar-a-Lago flood causing suspicion in Trump documents case

By Patricia Anderson June 5, 2023

A flooded server room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate amid investigations into classified document handling and potential obstruction of justice adds to prosecutors' suspicions, as questions arise over surveillance footage and moved boxes of sensitive documents.

In October last year, an employee at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence mistakenly or intentionally drained the resort's swimming pool, resulting in flooding a room containing computer servers with surveillance video logs, according to insiders. The incident, which has not been previously disclosed, took place during a series of events considered suspicious by federal prosecutors. The flooded server room is now part of a federal investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents, and at least one witness has been questioned about it.

The occurrence happened approximately two months after the FBI recovered hundreds of classified documents from the Florida estate. Meanwhile, prosecutors obtained surveillance footage to track the movement of White House records around the resort. The Justice Department has been examining attempts to obstruct its investigation following Trump's subpoena for classified documents in May 2022.

Although the IT equipment in the room remained undamaged, the flooded room, along with Trump employees' conversations and actions during the investigation, has attracted prosecutors' attention. The circumstances may contribute to a potential obstruction conspiracy case, as investigators determine if Trump or his employees attempted to interfere with evidence-gathering.

Initially, agents subpoenaed the Trump Organization for Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage before the FBI's August search. As more classified documents were discovered, investigators sought additional footage. Subsequently, the Justice Department requested the Trump Organization to preserve more footage in late October.

At least two dozen individuals, involving resort staff and Trump's inner circle members, have been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury examining the former president's handling of classified documents and potential obstruction of justice. Special counsel Jack Smith's prosecutors have been inquiring about surveillance footage management and employees' discussions.

In recent weeks, investigators have asked if there are discrepancies in the submitted surveillance footage and if tampering occurred. Prosecutors are investigating whether Trump employees, particularly Trump himself, gave specific directions to obstruct the inquiry.

A maintenance worker, who allegedly drained the pool leading to the surveillance footage room flooding, and Trump's body man Walt Nauta are among those the special counsel's office has focused its obstruction inquiries around. Concerns revolve around their preemptive actions of moving boxes of classified documents before federal agents searched the property.

In a grand jury hearing, investigators inquired about a text message from Nauta to Calamari Sr. and the maintenance worker's discussions. In addition, witnesses were questioned about Nauta and the maintenance worker moving boxes after the first subpoena for classified documents in May.

Attorney Evan Corcoran handed over 38 of the discovered records to the FBI, which later found hundreds more classified documents in Trump's office and storage room. Corcoran, who is no longer representing Trump, took detailed notes that never mentioned the moving of document boxes in or out of the storage room under DOJ demands.

Earlier this year, prosecutors subpoenaed Corcoran, arguing attorney-client privilege was invalid if he was aiding Trump in a crime. While Nauta initially denied handling sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago, his story changed after the FBI retrieved the surveillance footage. Currently, Nauta and the maintenance worker are cooperating but have not been charged.

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