Due to adverse weather conditions, Walt Nauta, personal aide to Donald Trump, was once again unable to formally plead not guilty to charges of conspiring with the former president to retain and conceal secret government records at Mar-a-Lago.

Nauta’s lawyer, Stanley Woodward, also requested an extension to secure a Florida attorney for the case, a requirement for entering the plea.

Woodward emphasized that Nauta takes the charges seriously and mentioned that his client had spent hours at a New Jersey airport on Monday, unsuccessfully attempting to reach Miami, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Acknowledging the circumstances, Chief Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres excused Nauta’s absence and scheduled a hearing for July 6.

However, Jay Bratt, a senior Justice Department official, urged the court to keep any extension as brief as possible.

Previously known as the White House military valet responsible for fetching Trump’s Diet Cokes, Nauta found himself implicated as an alleged co-conspirator when a grand jury indicted him alongside Trump.

The charges stem from their alleged collaboration in retaining and concealing sensitive government records at Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s residence and private club in South Florida.

Throughout the extensive investigation into the matter, federal prosecutors attempted, but failed, to convince Nauta to cooperate with the criminal inquiry and provide information against Trump.

Prosecutors suspect Nauta of lying to investigators and have hinted at the possibility of bringing criminal charges against him.

Written by staff