Trump aide Walt Nauta front and center during contentious hearing in classified documents case

Washington — As former President Donald Trump's "hush money" criminal trial in New York proceeds to closing arguments next week, the legal focus is moving south. His attorneys and longtime aide Walt Nauta appeared before Florida federal Judge Aileen Cannon, where they sparred with prosecutors during two contentious, day-long hearings on Wednesday. 

Nauta was charged last year alongside the former president by special counsel Jack Smith. They're accused of participating in a scheme to impede the Justice Department's investigation into Trump's handling of classified records. Prosecutors alleged they worked together to conceal boxes of documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence that were of interest to investigators who were trying to return sensitive government records to the federal government. Nauta is also accused of making false statements to investigators. 

Trump, Nauta, and a third codefendant, Carlos de Oliveria — a former Mar-a-Lago employee with whom Smith says Nauta allegedly unsuccessfully tried to delete security camera footage — have all pleaded not guilty. Nauta was the only defendant present for Wednesday's hearings.