(Ken Silva, Headline USA) The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s classified information case in Florida has unsealed a slew of court records in that matter—revealing details of an alleged plot to bribe defense attorney Stanley Woodward, who is representing Trump’s co-defendant, Walt Nauta.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon’s order to unseal court records revealed a June 7, 2023, letter from Woodward and Nauta to U.S. Judge James Boasberg. The letter came the day before the indictment against Trump was unsealed in the classified info case. The letter was reported on by mainstream media at the time, but wasn’t published until this week.
Read the recently unsealed letter, in which a defense lawyers in the Trump classified docs case accused the DOJ of attempting to bribe him.
According to the letter, a DOJ lawyer suggested that the defense attorney could become a DC judge if his client flipped on Trump pic.twitter.com/fMmvKLEC2M
— Ken Silva (@JD_Cashless) April 24, 2024
In the letter, Woodward and Nauta warned Boasberg that Special Counsel Jack Smith attempted to bribe Woodward last August when the Justice Department was building its case against the former President.
According to that letter, DOJ attorney Jay Bratt tried to bribe Woodward to convince his client to become a cooperating witness against Trump. This occurred during an Aug. 24, 2022, meeting, the letter said.
“Specifically, Mr. Bratt remarked that he was aware of the fact that Mr. Woodward had been recommended for a Presidential nomination to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia,” Woodward wrote in the letter.
“The only rational inference to be drawn from this reference … is that somehow Mr. Woodward’s potential nomination to the Superior Court would be implicated by Mr. Nauta’s decision not to ‘cooperate’ in government’s investigation. Indeed … Mr. Bratt concluded his observations with words to the effect of, ‘I wouldn’t want you to do anything to mess that up’—referring to Mr. Woodward’s potential nomination.”
The unsealing of the letter comes as Nauta still has at least one pending motion to dismiss the DOJ’s charges against him.
The DOJ has disagreed with Woodward’s characterization of the Aug. 24, 2022, meeting. However, Special Counsel Jack Smith did refer the matter to the DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility—though observers scoffed at the idea that the DOJ would properly investigate the allegations.
Bratt/Jack Smith referred the matter to DOJ's Office of Professional Responsibility (LOL). I'm sure a diligent investigation is underway 🙄
Date here must be incorrect–June 2023 not 2022. pic.twitter.com/sDZY2DPFXx
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) April 24, 2024
The alleged attempt to bribe Woodward has also drew the ire of the House Judiciary Committee, which sent Jack Smith a letter about the matter last September.
Jordan asked Smith to provide him with all documents and communications referring or relating to any appointment, meeting, or other visit by Woodward to the Justice Department, as well as any other communications referencing Woodward.
Smith had until Sept. 21 to answer Jordan, but it’s not clear if the Special Counsel provided any information.
Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.
