A former high-ranking federal prosecutor in Florida has been charged with stealing and leaking a sealed portion of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on President Donald Trump’s classified documents case.
Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, 62, a former managing Assistant U.S. Attorney in Fort Pierce, Florida, appeared in federal court on Wednesday after a four-count indictment was unsealed. The charges include theft of government property and removal and altering of public records.
The Alleged Leak
According to the indictment, Lineberger allegedly saved the sealed portion of Smith's report on her government-issued computer under the deceptive filename "Bundt_Cake_Recipe.pdf" and then emailed it from her Department of Justice (DOJ) account to her personal Gmail account on December 1, 2025.
The report in question concerns the now-defunct criminal case against President Donald Trump regarding his retention of classified documents.
Background on the Case
Judge Aileen Cannon issued a court order on January 21, 2025, explicitly prohibiting the DOJ and its employees from releasing or transmitting Volume II of Smith's report.
Key procedural history:
- July 2024: Judge Cannon dismissed the DOJ's criminal case against Trump, ruling that Smith's appointment violated the Appointments Clause.
- November 2024: The DOJ dropped its appeal following Trump's election.
Court Appearance
Lineberger appeared in court in Fort Pierce on Wednesday and was released without bond. The case continues to develop.