In newly unsealed court documents related to a legal battle over the Mar-a-Lago case, it has been disclosed that former President Donald Trump disregarded warnings that he could face charges for keeping classified documents at his private residence. The documents shed light on the candid advice given by an unnamed witness, referred to as Person 16, who urged Trump to cooperate with federal investigators in order to avoid potential indictment.

According to the witness, they advised Trump to surrender all classified documents, stating, "Whatever you have, give everything back. Let them come here and get everything." They emphasized the importance of not providing authorities with a reason to indict him. However, Trump seemed unperturbed by the warnings, responding with a somewhat dismissive "you're the man" type of reply.

The witness, who had daily access to the Oval Office and held a security clearance, declined to have their conversation with the FBI recorded, fearing potential repercussions. This witness account contradicts Trump's claim that he followed a standard order to declassify any documents in his possession. The witness stated that they only heard of such an order after Trump was facing charges.

Furthermore, the witness expressed their repeated urging for Trump to return the records sought by the National Archives, stressing that the aggravation was not worth it. They also advised Trump's children to give him the same warning, as sometimes multiple individuals needed to convey the same message to the former president.

Regarding conversations with Trump's valet, Walt Nauta, who has subsequently been charged, the witness revealed that Nauta was told the document case was politically motivated and insignificant. They claimed that even if Nauta faced charges for lying to investigators, Trump would pardon him in 2024.

The court documents also disclosed additional details about the investigation, including its code name, Plasmic Echo. The witness mentioned that Trump only hired attorney James Trusty after seeing him on TV.

Prosecutors released these court documents in response to Trump's claims of political prosecution, arguing that the government officials involved in the investigation were diligently performing their jobs and that the defendants' misstatements required clarification. The prosecutors emphasized that the collection of Presidential records, which legally belong to the United States, was obstructed by a former President engaged in calculated and persistent obstruction.

As the legal battle surrounding the Mar-a-Lago case continues, these unsealed court documents shed further light on the interactions and advice given to Trump regarding the handling of classified documents. The revelations raise questions about the former President's approach to matters of national security and his perception of the potential legal repercussions stemming from his actions.