It was made possible for prosecutors to file new obstruction charges against former President Donald Trump and two other advisers in a superseding indictment in Smith’s classified documents case last month thanks to a Mar-a-Lago IT worker’s decision to cooperate with special counsel Jack Smith and modify his prior testimony, according to sources familiar with the situation who spoke to ABC News.
Yuscil Taveras, who is he?
The IT director, whose identity was confirmed as Yuscil Taveras, is anticipated to be a key witness in Smith’s allegations that Trump, his aide Walt Nauta, and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira essentially tried to cover up as the government investigated Trump’s handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.
Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira have all pleaded not guilty to all charges in the case.
Insiders claim that the details of the agreement, which did not require Taveras to enter a guilty plea, are unclear because they were reached after discussions between Taveras’ attorney and the special prosecutor.
According to people with knowledge of the situation, Taveras agreed to the deal after receiving a target letter from Smith in June warning him that he would likely face perjury charges for allegedly lying to investigators during grand jury testimony in March.
Taveras, referred to in Smith’s superseding indictment as “Trump Employee 4,” recently switched attorneys as a result of receiving the target letter. Nauta had previously been represented by Stanley Woodward, according to recent court documents in the case.
Sources claim that Taveras agreed to Smith’s decision not to pursue him for allegedly self-perjury in exchange for accurate testimony outlining the actions supporting the additional obstruction claims in the supplemental indictment.
The first person connected to one of Smith’s investigations into Trump who is known to have come to such an agreement with him is Taveras.
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