A former Department of Justice prosecutor in Florida has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly sending herself confidential internal government files related to former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents. The indictment was unsealed this week and has drawn wide attention because the documents in question were under court‑ordered restrictions.
The former prosecutor, Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, 62, previously served as a managing assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Florida, based in Fort Pierce. Prosecutors say Lineberger used her official Justice Department email account to send herself copies of internal material — including a sealed portion of Smith’s final report — to her personal email in late 2025.
Lineberger appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released without having to post bond.
Documents at the Center of the Case
The case revolves around a portion of Smith’s investigative work known as “Volume II,” which included findings from Smith’s inquiry into how Trump and associates handled classified national security documents following his first presidency. That part of the report was not released publicly after a federal judge issued an order blocking its disclosure.
Prosecutors allege that Lineberger intercepted those documents in her Justice Department email account and later forwarded them to her personal accounts, disguising the files with innocuous file names like “Chocolate_cake_recipe.pdf” and “Bundt_Cake_Recipe.pdf” in an apparent attempt to conceal them from detection.
One count in the indictment concerns a claim that she intentionally violated a judge’s order issued in early 2025 that prohibited Justice Department employees from sharing, transmitting or distributing Volume II of the report outside official channels.
Charges and Plea
Lineberger was charged with two felony counts related to theft of government property or records and multiple counts associated with concealment or alteration of public records under federal law. She entered a not‑guilty plea during her court appearance.
The indictment does not specify what Lineberger planned to do with the files after sending them to her personal email, and her attorney has not publicly commented on the case.
Because of her past role in the Southern District of Florida, prosecutors from a different federal district are overseeing the matter to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
Background on the Report and Legal Context
The sealed portion of Jack Smith’s investigation focused on allegations that former President Trump retained classified documents, including U.S. national defense material, at his Mar‑a‑Lago residence in Florida. That case was dismissed in 2024 by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was procedurally flawed. The judge also blocked the release of Smith’s unreleased report on this subject, citing concerns about fairness to Trump’s co‑defendants and legal propriety.
Smith’s team had also pursued a separate aspect of the classified documents case that was publicly released in 2025, but the sealed volume remained barred from disclosure due to the judge’s order.
The FBI has emphasized that the alleged actions by Lineberger represent a breach of public trust given her prior role in the Justice Department.
Key Takeaways
- Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, a former Department of Justice prosecutor, has been indicted for allegedly sending herself confidential government files related to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into classified documents.
- She is accused of forwarding the sealed report to her personal email accounts under misleading file names like “Chocolate_cake_recipe.pdf” and “Bundt_Cake_Recipe.pdf.”
- Lineberger pleaded not guilty and was released without posting bond at her first court appearance.
- The document at issue was under a court‑ordered restriction blocking its release outside the Justice Department.
- Prosecutors say the charges include theft of government property and concealment of public records; the case is being handled by a separate federal prosecutor to avoid conflict.