Seth Meyers, a comedian and talk show host, humorously criticized former President Donald Trump’s alleged attempts at bribery. CNN reported that Trump and his allies tried to influence a former Mar-a-Lago employee, who became a witness after FBI raids, with promises of job reinstatement, invitations to golf events, and free legal advice.
The Huffington Post quoted Meyers joking about Trump’s bribery methods, saying, “Man, only Trump is lazy enough to bribe a witness with stuff he just had lying around.” CNN revealed that Trump personally contacted this ex-employee, inquiring about his departure after twenty years at Mar-a-Lago.
The employee mentioned his interest in a new business venture and later learned that Trump regarded him as a “good man.” This former employee was privy to several events that Special Counsel Jack Smith cited in the federal criminal indictment against Trump for mishandling secret documents.
He was involved in discussions between Trump, Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, and Trump’s bodyguard Walt Nauta, all of which featured in the indictment. The ex-employee’s potential to provide crucial information to investigators is significant, especially since he had moved boxes for Trump.
De Oliveira, a close associate of the former employee and a long-time Trump loyalist, is reportedly having his legal fees paid by Trump. After the employee’s departure, De Oliveira offered him free tickets to a golf event Trump wished him to attend and reassured him that his job at Mar-a-Lago was still available.
The case raises questions about Trump’s staff potentially using his defense lawyers. Notably, a Trump employee who initially had a Trump-affiliated lawyer but later switched to a federal public defender provided crucial testimony leading to De Oliveira’s prosecution.