Former DOJ prosecutor charged with stealing copy of Jack Smith report on Trump classified docs probe
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former federal prosecutor in Florida sent to her personal email account a special counsel report from the investigation into President Donald Trump’s hoarding of classified documents despite a judge’s order that it was to remain sealed, according to an indictment made public on Wednesday.
Carmen Lineberger, who worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and managed its Fort Pierce branch, faces charges including theft of government property and concealment of government records. She pleaded not guilty during a court appearance in West Palm Beach. Her attorney did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Prosecutors allege that while serving as a Justice Department prosecutor last December, Lineberger sent a copy of the report that special counsel Jack Smith and his team had prepared, recapping their investigation into Trump’s retention of top-secret documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, to her personal email account. At the time she did so, the indictment says, a judicial order barred Justice Department employees from sharing, transmitting or distributing copies of the report.
The indictment alleges that Lineberger sought to conceal her actions by altering the original file name of the report to “Bundt_Cake_Recipe.pdf” before saving the re-titled file on her government computer and emailing it to her personal email account with the subject line of “Bundt_Cake_Recipe,pdf.”
Several months earlier, according to the indictment, Lineberger created on her government computer a document consisting of portions of internal Justice Department messages, along with portions of an internal memorandum with header and footer markings that indicated it was for official use only.
Related Posts
More in US News
Top Stories
Caitlin Clark tells Indy 500 drivers to start their cars as grand marshal
Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs Game 4 best bets include a side and two player props
British Royal Navy prepares to clear mines in Strait of Hormuz
Rep. Massie says he would support short-term Iran deal amid rising costs
‘American Sniper’ widow shreds Maine Senate candidate’s ‘cowardly’ attack
Figure AI says its humanoid robots ran 24 hours straight sorting packages
Curt Cignetti jokes he had to ‘coach the hell out’ of undefeated Hoosiers to be Indy 500 pace car driver
Lost Continent demolition begins at Universal Orlando Islands of Adventure
Crews find possible crack in chemical tank that could ease GKN crisis