Trump docs case co-defendant insists he’s 'OK' with 'potential ethical conflicts': report

12 October 2023

Mar-a-Lago maintenance employee Carlos De Oliveira on Thursday assured Judge Aileen Canon that he is "OK with" any "potential ethical conflicts" that may arise with his lawyer John Irving in ex-President Donald Trump's classified documents case, but "struggled to articulate his understanding of the potential issues," CNN reports.

Per the report, "De Oliveira is accused of attempting to tamper with surveillance footage at the club during an investigation into the handling of classified documents and of lying to investigators. He and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty and plan to contest the charges at trial."

CNN reports:

The two-hour hearing highlighted a bigger theme that has shaded the Mar-a-Lago documents case: The inter-connectedness of Trump's legal universe. While it's not atypical for an employer to assist employees in finding and paying for lawyers, a small group of attorneys have juggled many clients in Trump's sphere, receiving compensation for at least some of their work from Trump's Save America PAC and working closely with Trump’s own defense lawyers.

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Irving was "paid for by Trump's political action committee," according to the report, and although he "no longer represents the three clients he had who may be called to testify against Trump and his co-defendants," attorney Stanley Woodward "still represents several potential witnesses," including co-defendant Walt Nauta.

However, CNN reports, "Woodward has maintained his work for Nauta hasn't created clear conflicts of interest."

De Oliveira told Cannon, "I would like to continue forward with Mr. Irving," the news outlet notes, "adding that he had not been influenced or coerced into making that decision."

Per CNN, "Cannon accepted De Oliveira’s waiver of any issues that could arise with Irving. The Justice Department had raised the concern in part to eliminate possible grounds for appeal if the defendants are convicted at trial."

CNN's full report is available at this link.

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