On March 8, President Trump appointed retired Navy veteran Walt Nauta as a member of the US Naval Academy Board of Visitors. Trump made the announcement on the “Truth Social” platform, stating that the academy needed a new board of visitors to continue its excellence. Alongside Nauta, other members appointed to the board include Sean Spicer, “Doc Ronnie” Jackson, and Derek Van Orden. They are tasked with ensuring the continued success of the academy.
Walt Nauta previously served as Trump’s personal bodyguard, accompanying him during his stay at Mar-a-Lago and getting involved in the “classified documents case.” He was indicted on charges related to the Espionage Act.
In August 2022, FBI agents raided Mar-a-Lago on suspicions that Trump violated the Espionage Act by retaining national military secrets and illegally destroying federal documents. In July 2024, a federal judge dismissed the “classified documents case” before Trump was officially nominated as the 2024 presidential candidate.
On February 11, the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit dropped charges against two co-defendants in the Trump “classified documents case,” Walter Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira. Special prosecutor Jack Smith accused them of obstructing justice and making false statements to help Trump conceal the presence of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
According to court documents, Trump promised to pardon the co-defendants if they were convicted in the Florida resort documents case. Additionally, Stanley Woodward, a lawyer who defended Trump’s former aide in the “classified documents case,” was appointed to the White House legal team in January.
About a month ago, President Trump disbanded the oversight committees of four military service academies due to their support of “woke ideology.” These committees were responsible for supervising student life on military school campuses.