Brian Butler, previously employed at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and referred to as “Trump Employee Number 5” in the indictment documents, broke his silence in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Monday. Butler shared his firsthand account of the events surrounding the federal investigation into Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Unwitting Accomplice in Moving Classified Documents
Butler recounted how he unknowingly assisted in transporting classified documents onto Trump’s private plane. This coincided with Trump’s meeting with federal investigators at his property in June 2022, two months prior to the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago and a year before Trump’s indictment by special counsel Jack Smith.
Pressure to Hire Trump-Aligned Lawyers
Following these events, Butler and others were pressured to retain lawyers aligned with Trump. Butler, however, chose to hire an independent attorney, despite the insistence of his former close friend and Trump’s co-defendant, Carlos De Oliveira.
Key Takeaways from the Interview
Simultaneous Arrival of FBI and Departure of Boxes
Butler detailed how he and Walt Nauta, another co-defendant, were moving boxes from Mar-a-Lago to the airport for Trump’s departure to his New Jersey resort. This was happening concurrently with federal investigators visiting Trump to discuss the return of classified material in his possession.
De Oliveira’s Attempt to Involve Butler
De Oliveira, who was charged in July 2023 for attempting to cover up the movement of the boxes, tried to implicate Butler in the case. Butler, however, maintained that he was unaware of the contents of the boxes he helped transport.
De Oliveira’s Loyalty to Trump
Butler recalled a conversation with Nauta about De Oliveira’s loyalty to Trump. This led to an encrypted text message exchange with Susie Wiles, a Trump aide now managing his 2024 campaign, affirming De Oliveira’s loyalty.
Pressure to Hire a Trump-Aligned Attorney
Butler described how De Oliveira pressured him to hire a Trump-aligned attorney. Despite this, Butler chose to hire an independent attorney, stating, “I think it’s better to look after yourself and take care of it yourself.”
Butler’s View on Trump’s Presidential Candidacy
Despite his two-decade-long employment under Trump, Butler expressed his belief that Trump should not run for president again. He stated, “I personally would just say I just don’t believe that he should be a presidential candidate at this time. I think it’s time to move on.”
Butler’s Motivation to Speak Out
Butler chose to share his experiences at Mar-a-Lago to inform voters ahead of the election. He refuted Trump’s claims of innocence, stating, “I think the American people have the right to know the facts, that this is not a witch hunt.”