DOJ Charges Former Prosecutor With Stealing Sealed Trump Documents Report
A federal grand jury indicted Carmen Mercedes Lineberger on four felony counts for allegedly downloading and emailing a sealed volume of special counsel Jack Smith's report on President Trump's classified documents case. The report has remained under court seal since January 2025.
cnbc.comThe Department of Justice charged a former federal prosecutor Wednesday with stealing a sealed volume of special counsel Jack Smith's report on President Donald Trump's classified documents case. S. attorney in Fort Pierce, Florida, faces four felony counts including theft of government property, concealing a public record, removing a public record, and altering a public record.
pdf" and emailed it to her personal Gmail account in December 2025.
Background on the Sealed Report U.S.
District Judge Aileen Cannon ordered the report kept secret after President Trump took office in January 2025. The order barred the Justice Department from releasing or sharing Volume II, which summarized the investigation into Trump's retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after he left office in 2021.
Volume I of Smith's report, covering efforts to remain in office after the 2020 election, was released in mid-January 2025. Cannon dismissed the underlying criminal case against Trump in 2024, ruling that Smith was not properly appointed as special counsel.
Lineberger appeared in federal court in Fort Pierce on Wednesday and was released without posting bond. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her attorney declined to comment on the case. S. " — ABC News, May 20, 2026 The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have not stated what Lineberger allegedly planned to do with the documents.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
5 events- December 2025
Lineberger allegedly downloaded and emailed Volume II of the Smith report.
3 sourcescnbc.com · CBSNews · ABC News - September 2025
Lineberger allegedly downloaded and emailed an internal DOJ memorandum.
1 sourceCBSNews - January 2025
Judge Aileen Cannon ordered Volume II of the Smith report sealed.
3 sourcescnbc.com · CBSNews · ABC News - May 20, 2026
Federal grand jury indicted Carmen Mercedes Lineberger on four felony counts.
3 sourcescnbc.com · CBSNews · ABC News - May 21, 2026
Lineberger appeared in court in Fort Pierce and pleaded not guilty.
3 sourcescnbc.com · CBSNews · ABC News
Potential Impact
- 01
The sealed report remains under court order prohibiting release by the Justice Department.
- 02
Two legal groups are appealing the orders keeping the report sealed.
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