Former DOJ Prosecutor Charged With Stealing Sealed Jack Smith Report

A former federal prosecutor was indicted Wednesday on charges she emailed herself confidential files from special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Trump’s handling of classified documents. Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, 62, of Port St.

Lucie, Florida, faces two counts of theft of government property, one count of destruction or falsification of government records, and one count of concealment or removal of public records.

U.S. attorney for the Fort Pierce branch of the Southern District of Florida when she received a copy of a confidential volume of Smith’s report. She altered file names of the volume and other internal Justice Department materials, then sent them to her personal Hotmail and Gmail accounts, according to court documents.

Court documents allege she used file names including “chocolate cake recipe” and “bundt cake recipe” between September and December to avoid raising red flags.

Court Orders and Background U.S.

District Judge Aileen Cannon in February barred the public release of Smith’s report on whether Trump had mishandled classified documents after he left the White House in 2021. Cannon ruled that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional because he continued working on the report after she dismissed the case against Trump in July 2024.

The indictment does not allege that Lineberger shared the files with anyone outside the Justice Department.

Lineberger was arraigned in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. If convicted on all charges, she could face more than 20 years in prison. Lineberger’s attorney declined to comment. U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is prosecuting the case to avoid conflicts with Lineberger’s former office.

U.S. Attorney who supported Jack Smith’s politicized investigation of President Trump has been charged with stealing the confidential investigation documents.