Two lawyers quit Donald Trump's defence in documents case, former aide indicted

Two lawyers defending the former United States president Donald Trump over federal charges of alleged mishandling of classified documents, on Friday, quit the case.

On the other hand, in a shocking development, Trump's former aide was also charged a day after the former US president's indictment.

Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump said that his former personal aide, navy veteran, Walt Nauta, was charged in the case.

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Nauta, after working in the White House, went on to work at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. It isn't yet clear as to what charges are being faced by him.

As per the Reuters reports, Nauta's lawyer, Stanley Woodward, refused to comment.

Trump on the Truth Social platform wrote, "Nauta served proudly with me in the White House, retired as Senior Chief, and then transitioned into private life as a personal aide."

Earlier, Trump shared a post saying that he would be represented in the case by white-collar defence lawyer Todd Blanche, who is representing him in a separate criminal case in Manhattan.

Trump made that announcement after his lawyers John Rowley and Jim Trusty left the case for reasons that were not immediately clear.

"This morning we tendered our resignations as counsel to President Trump," the two lawyers said in a statement. "It has been an honour to have spent the last year defending him, and we know he will be vindicated."

Donald Trump faces seven criminal counts related to his treatment of sensitive government materials he took with him when he left the White House in January 2021, Reuters cited a source familiar with the matter as saying.

Trump appoints Federal Judge

As per CNN reports, Donald Trump has appointed Federal District Judge Aileen Cannon to represent him in the new federal criminal case running against him in Miami.

Trump on Thursday, took to his social media platform and wrote, "I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!", after announcing he had been indicted.

Trump is also planning to appoint another Florida-based attorney to his legal team after his indictment over federal charges of illegally retaining classified documents, CNN said, citingsources familiar with the matter.

Trump's Republican rivals accuse Justice Department ofpolitical bias

Trump's main rivals for the 2024 Presidential nomination released a statement condemning the Department of Justice for indicting the former US president, saying that this move would upset his core supporters.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and USSenator Tim Scott condemned the Justice Department for political bias.

"The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society," DeSantis, who is running a distant second behind Trump in the polls, wrote on Twitter. "We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation."

“Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America. It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him. Joe Biden kept classified documents for decades,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted Thursday night.

(With inputs from agencies)

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