Trump hearings: De Oliveira arraignment rescheduled; Nauta pleads not guilty to new charges

FORT PIERCE - Former President Donald Trump's codefendants Waltine "Walt" Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira appeared before a magistrate judge at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse today to enter pleas to new charges added July 27 to an indictment in the classified documents case.

Trump also was scheduled to attend, but elected not to, after Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office filed papers July 27 stating that Trump and Nauta may excuse their appearances on Thursday “subject to the court’s approval.”

“I waive my right to appear in court at my arraignment,” Trump said in a court filing. In the same paperwork, he also pleaded "not guilty" to a trio of new charges, include two counts of obstruction and one count of unlawful retention of National Defense Information.

Trump’s newest co-defendant, Carlos De Oliveira, property manager at his Mar-a-Lago resort, was in court for his arraignment at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shaniek Mills Maynard. He was expected to enter a plea on four counts revealed in the superseding indictment, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, concealing an object and making a false statement. But his arraignment was rescheduled.

Nauta was arraigned on two new obstruction counts added in the superseding indictment.

What happens at an arraignment?

The judge identifies the defendant by name and reads the official charges. The accused is asked how they want to plead and are told about their right to be represented by a lawyer. The judge then decides if bail is required for the defendant to be released. The judge can decide to set no bail. In this scenario, the defendant is immediately released without being placed in jail.

10:23 a.m.: Arraignments conclude in Fort Pierce

U.S. Magistrate Judge Shaniek Mills Maynard rescheduled the arraignment for Carlos De Oliveira to Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in the morning, because he does not yet have a Florida attorney. His Washington, D.C. attorney John Irving accompanied him.

Walt Nauta pleaded 'not guilty' to his two new obstruction counts added in a superseding indictment. His Fort Pierce attorney Sasha Dadan accompanied him along with his Washington, D.C. attorney Stanley Woodward.

10:15 a.m.: Spontaneous Trump support in Fort Pierce

Christine Scott, of Deerfield Beach, said she joined demonstrators this morning spontaneously as she was here for a personal matter.

She said she believes the case against Trump is flawed and bringing the former president to court is an affront to the people. "When they're going after Trump, they're going after us," Scott said.

10 a.m.: Inside the Fort Pierce federal courthouse ...

Carlos De Oliveira is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shaniek Mills Maynard to enter his plea on four counts revealed in the superseding indictment, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, concealing an object and making a false statement. The new counts were added July 27 to an indictment in the classified documents case. Walt Nauta is to appear before the magistrate after him.

9:45 a.m.: Nauta, De Oliveira arrive in Fort Pierce at federal courthouse

Walt Nauta, valet and body guard to former President Donald Trump, and Carlos De Oliveira, Trump's property manager at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, arrived at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in two separate SUVS, one behind the other.

9:40 a.m. Security patrols federal courthouse in Fort Pierce

9:30 a.m.: Traveling to support Trump

9:15 a.m.: Awaiting arrival of De Oliveira and Nauta in Fort Pierce

8:45 a.m.: Trump supporter is an early arrival in Fort Pierce

Bob Kunst, 81, stood near the northeast corner of the courthouse behind a large sign reading “Lock Biden Up.” Kunst, who said he came here from Miami Beach, also wore a “Deplorables For Trump” shirt.

A longtime Democrat, Kunst said he support’s Trump’s policies, and voted for him.

“From my perspective, I am so upset with what's happened to my party,” Kunst said. “I just can't believe that they're this stupid and this evil. I don't know what's going on anymore.”

Kunst said the last time he was in downtown Fort Pierce was for the October 2022 debate between then gubernatorial candidates Charlie Crist and Ron DeSantis at the Sunrise Theatre.

8:25 a.m.: No electronic devices in the courthouse for media

In Florida, cameras are not allowed in federal courtrooms. Last month U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, the judge assigned to Trump's classified documents case, ordered that for the foreseeable future, the media would not be allowed to bring any electronic devices into the Fort Pierce federal courthouse. Once in the courthouse for these hearings today, media representatives cannot leave until the proceedings end.

TCPalm will bring you news from the courtroom as soon as possible today. USAToday Florida Network reporter Hannah Phillips will be in the courtroom.

8 a.m.: Media, onlookers gathering in Fort Pierce for hearings in Trump documents case

The first hearing begins at 10 a.m., and media representatives must register to get access to the courthouse and a seat in U.S. Magistrate Judge Shaniek Mills Maynard's courtroom, which is very small.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Trump classified documents case: What happened in Fort Pierce today