In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Mar-a-Lago employee Brian Butler shared his perspective on the events surrounding the case against former President Donald Trump concerning classified documents. Known only as “Trump Employee 5” in legal documents, Butler recounted his experience at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, where he became inadvertently involved in a situation with potentially significant implications for national security.
Butler detailed a specific instance where he was enlisted by Walt Nauta, Trump’s aide and a co-defendant in the case, to assist in transporting boxes onto Trump’s aircraft. This request came after Butler had navigated a series of events that included a motorcade procession and receiving a text message indicating that Trump’s valet was anticipating his arrival.
“They were the boxes that were in the indictment, the white banker’s boxes,” Butler told Collins. “That’s what I remember loading.” “He followed me, he pulled out and got behind me,” Butler said. “I ended up loading all the luggage I had, and he had a bunch of boxes.”
During the interview, Collins probed Butler on his awareness of the contents of the boxes he was handling. The question at the heart of the matter was whether Butler was cognizant of the possibility that these boxes could contain sensitive information about U.S. national security. This line of inquiry aimed to understand the level of knowledge and intention behind Butler’s actions in the context of the broader investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith into the mishandling of classified documents by Trump and his associates.
“No, I had no clue,” Butler said. “We were just taking them out of the Escalade, piling them up. I remember they were all stacked on top of each other and then we’re lifting them up to the pilots.”
“How many boxes was it?” asked Collins.
“They asked me in the interview, and I believe it was — I tend to 15, is what I remember,” said Butler. Butler didn’t realize until later that the boxes would end up at the heart of special counsel Jack Smith’s Florida federal court case, in which Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges that include conspiracy to obstruct justice and corruptly concealing a document or record, he said. “There were a few different things that happened that kind of opened my eyes to, you know, something’s going on here,” Butler said.
“So you get that unusual request,” Collins said. “Did you ever think to yourself, why were there so many boxes at Mar-a-Lago?” “For me, I’m just thinking, oh, the former president has a lot of stuff he likes to lug around with him,” he said. “I never would’ve thought it was anything like what we see.”
The situation puts a spotlight on the complexities and potential legal ramifications of handling classified materials outside of secure government premises. The involvement of individuals like Butler, who found themselves amidst a scenario with far-reaching legal and national security consequences, underscores the intricate web of responsibilities and legal obligations surrounding the management and protection of classified information.
As the case unfolds, the testimonies of those involved, including Butler’s account of his actions and his understanding of their potential significance, will play a crucial role in piecing together the events that led to the indictment. The implications of this case extend beyond the individuals directly involved, touching on broader issues of national security, the handling of sensitive information, and the responsibilities of public officials and their associates in maintaining the integrity of classified documents.
