A photo taken at a golf tournament a few weeks ago is going around the world. A man leans towards Donald Trump and shows off his white tank top.

Trump’s loyal adviser, Walt Nauta, learned the day before that he was being investigated for complicity in the most serious case against Trump to date: withholding classified documents and actively resisting authorities.

Nauta has been charged, and now the prosecution has released the charges against him. He could be the evidence that will bring Trump down.

Stand by the door

The photo from the golf tournament is described as a symbol of the closeness and familiarity between the two, according to the newspaper The New York Times.

Walt Nauta’s aunt tells the newspaper The Washington Post that he was just following Trump’s instructions.

Nauta is now charged with perjury and conspiring against authorities and actively hiding classified documents.

– The most dangerous for Trump

The two met at Mass at the White House. Walt Nauta then became the then President’s permanent assistant in the Oval Office.

The 40-year-old is described as calm, conscientious and shy of conflict, according to The Washington Post.

Few have said the same of his boss.

Coke without sugar

When Trump was thirsty, Nauta was his regular “diet coke” assistant, the magazine writes New York Smart. He stood outside the Oval Office door and waited ready with Trump’s jacket and everything he needed, employees say The Washington Post.

When Trump resigned, the military veteran left the Navy and became a civilian, to better serve Trump in his new existence in Florida.

There, among other tasks, he had to move and carry boxes. Maybe it tripped him up.

I have a dramatic message

Risk jail

Trump is accused of taking classified documents to the Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida. He would also have opposed their return after his presidency.

This is described as the stark difference between Trump’s case and the cases of President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence.

These two also had classified documents with them, but later cooperated with authorities.

If Trump is found guilty, he faces a lengthy prison sentence.

At the same time, he wants to become the Republican presidential candidate.

Prosecutors allege Trump asked Walt Nauta to move boxes of documents to hide them from the FBI, the grand jury and Trump’s attorney.

Had secret documents in the bathroom

Admitted

According to the Washington Post, Nauta initially denied knowledge of the classified documents.

But in further questioning, he reportedly admitted to moving boxes on Trump’s instructions. According to the newspaper, there is video footage from Florida that confirms this.

He may thus have provided the prosecution with the necessary evidence that Trump knowingly and voluntarily concealed the classified documents.

Investigators found the documents in several places in Mar-a-Lago, including in a village hall, in a bathroom and in a shower, writes New York Times. The US Department of Justice said Friday that doing so could endanger US national security.

Neither Trump’s spokesperson nor Nauta’s spokesperson would respond to questions from The Washington Post about Nauta’s service to Trump. But Trump’s spokesperson praises Nauta’s “talent, unique experience and professionalism”:

– No one else is better qualified for this position than Mr. Nauta, Steven Cheung told the Washington Post.