Walt Nauta, a close aide to former President Donald Trump, has been indicted in Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents. This indictment follows Trump's own indictment on Thursday night, marking a significant escalation in the legal challenges facing the former president and his inner circle.

While the specific charges against Nauta remain undisclosed as the indictment is currently sealed, sources indicate that surveillance footage captured him moving boxes containing sensitive materials from a Mar-a-Lago storage area. This activity occurred during a period when the government was actively seeking information about these very documents. Furthermore, reports suggest Nauta ceased cooperation with investigators at some point.

The possibility of further indictments against other current or former Trump aides or associates remains open as the investigation continues.

Trump, the leading contender in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, faces at least seven counts related to obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and unlawful retention of classified government materials. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday.

Appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022, Special Counsel Smith's investigation centers on Trump's alleged mishandling of classified records at his Mar-a-Lago residence. This investigation stemmed from the FBI's unprecedented raid on the property in August 2022, prompted by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) informing Congress that Trump had taken 15 boxes of presidential records to his Florida home. NARA confirmed that these boxes contained classified national security information and official correspondence with foreign leaders.

The recovered materials reportedly included a letter from former President Obama, a letter from Kim Jong Un, a birthday dinner menu, and a cocktail napkin. Trump has maintained that the documents were provided to NARA upon request and that the raid was unnecessary. The affidavit used to justify the raid indicated probable cause to believe that additional classified documents remained at Mar-a-Lago.

The government's search was based on suspected violations of federal laws, including those related to gathering, transmitting, or losing defense information (Espionage Act), concealment, removal, or mutilation of records, and destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations.