‘We need to get you sweaty’: Critics blast FBI’s interrogation of Trump’s valet after transcript exposed
A redacted version of the FBI interview of former President Trump’s valet from 2022 was unsealed, raising questions about the probe of sensitive materials boxed at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The unsealed transcript shows Walt Nauta being questioned by FBI agents in May 2022, Nauta has denied charges against him alleging he obstructed federal agents by moving boxes around the former president’s Palm Beach home.
While some media reports on the unsealed document focused on the agents seeming to question whether Nauta was coached in his responses, another look at the transcript raised concerns about the disturbing line of questioning.
The FBI examined Nauta without Trump’s knowledge, peppering him with questions about “not just the movement of boxes but Trump’s habits and conversations,” according to journalist Julie Kelly.
“Just imagine the FBI doing this to any other former president,” she wrote on X.
MORE from FBI interview with Walt Nauta, Trump’s White House valet then personal aide at Mar-a-Lago.
The FBI interrogated Nauta w/o Trump’s knowledge. About not just the movement of boxes but Trump’s habits and conversations.
Just imagine the FBI doing this to any other former… pic.twitter.com/4vWPsbgh6G
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) April 12, 2024
“Does anybody know that you’re here other than your attorney?” an agent asked Nauta, according to the transcript.
When Nauta responded in the negative, he was further asked, “What about the former President? Does he know?”
“No. As far as he knows, I’m out jogging,” Trump’s valet replied.
WTF , ‘we need to get you sweaty ‘ it’s unbelievable .
— Nancy (@sooo_nance) April 12, 2024
“FBI agents (unidentified for now but I believe they were out of the Washington FBI office of course) lowkey accuse Nauta of being something other than an aide and pressure him to snitch on his boss–Trump,” Kelly wrote in another post.
FBI agents (unidentified for now but I believe they were out of the Washington FBI office of course) lowkey accuse Nauta of being something other than an aide and pressure him to snitch on his boss–Trump pic.twitter.com/uHGvm3nEH9
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) April 12, 2024
Part of the transcript showed FBI agents taking advantage of “Nauta’s loyalties as a Navy officer to suggest Trump is risking the lives of those who produced the papers” according to Kelly who added, “Dirty bastards.”
Another Flynn-style FBI ambush of a Trump confidant.
FBI plays on Nauta’s loyalties as a Navy officer to suggest Trump is risking the lives of those who produced the papers they are accusing Trump of keeping at MAL. Dirty bastards pic.twitter.com/p8sBg6IFlr
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) April 12, 2024
One agent’s repeated use of the phrase “you know” led Kelly to remark they sounded like “Valley Girls.”
Set aside these two talk like Valley Girls (could it be Andrew Weissmann and Ryan Goodman on contract?) this is utter and total bullshit.
During this time frame, Joe Biden enlisted govt aides to search Penn Biden center for classified documents- including national defense files… pic.twitter.com/WPex4hTm4k
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) April 12, 2024
Bc they are liars.
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) April 12, 2024
Agents seemed interested in what “personal items” Trump kept in boxes.
I will have much more on this FBI interview later in preparation for this afternoon’s court hearing but this is real.
This is the FBI asking what the former president kept in personal boxes. A f*cking joke: pic.twitter.com/rOo6eLeZUs
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) April 12, 2024
So the FBI found boxes of shampoo and hairspray? Oh no. Shame on Trump.
— Republicans Against Groomers (@spreadlove2024) April 12, 2024
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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