As of: March 12, 2024, 4:09 p.m
By: Nils Hinsberger
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Trump faces a long prison sentence in the documents affair.
His former confidant is now going public - despite fear of consequences.
Palm Beach - A former confidant of ex-US President Donald Trump has published new details about the Trump documents affair
in an interview with US broadcaster
CNN .
Brian Butler was a long-time employee at Trump's private club Mar-a-Lago in South Florida - and, according to his own statement, witnessed how secret documents from the White House were illegally taken out of Trump's property.
Butler has already made a statement against Trump to federal investigators and provided crucial information against his former boss.
He dared to go public because he wanted to tell the truth about Trump to those who still doubt the allegations against the Republican presidential candidate.
Criminal proceedings against Trump not a “witch hunt” – Trump employee helped get rid of secret documents
Butler is not just another witness in the trial against Donald Trump for embezzling secret government documents.
He even helped move relevant files from Trump's residence to his private plane.
On June 3, 2022, he received a request from Trump's confidant Walt Nauta asking to borrow a car to transport Trump's luggage.
A task that would actually have been the responsibility of Butler and his employees.
Trump is accused of embezzling secret documents from the White House.
Now his former employee is coming forward against the ex-president.
© Evan Vucci
Butler drove his private car to Palm Beach Airport and helped load luggage onto Trump's plane.
While Butler took care of the luggage, Nauta loaded several boxes.
“Those were the boxes that were mentioned in the indictment,” Butler said in the interview.
“The white banker boxes.
That's what I remember when I was invited.” Trump often speaks of a “witch hunt” against him in connection with the charges against him.
Butler couldn't understand that; after all, he had observed the allegations himself.
Along with Trump, Nauta is also charged in the secret government documents case - namely for removing the secret documents from Trump's residence in Mar-a-Lago.
Specifically, he is accused of obstruction of justice in the proceedings against his boss,
Zeit Online
reported .
In July 2023 he pleaded “innocent”.
Donald Trump faces up to ten years in prison for the documents scandal
The documents affair is not the only trial being conducted against Trump.
The ex-president was recently convicted in two cases.
In a fraud trial in New York, Trump was sentenced to pay a fine of more than $400 million.
If Trump is convicted of embezzling secret documents, he could even go to prison.
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Depending on the interpretation, the embezzlement of secret government documents can result in up to ten years in prison, reports
ZDF today
.
Nevertheless, Donald Trump will run for the office of US President in the upcoming US elections and is enjoying good results in voter surveys.
And Trump could actually hold the office of president from prison.
However, this would be the first time that a US president has been in prison while in office - not to mention the technical feasibility.
Ex-employee was part of the inner circle for 20 years - now he is testifying against Trump
It is not a given that Butler is now turning to the public.
He worked in Trump's closest environment for 20 years and built up a social circle and friendships there.
He made his statement to the investigators with mixed feelings.
“I felt like it was a completely hopeless situation for me,” Butler said in the interview.
“They ask me questions about one of my best friends.
I'm honest.
But I also have a bad feeling that what I'm saying will mean trouble for me." (nhi)