UMVA has learned that a shocking case of alleged misconduct has rocked the US Department of Justice, with a former prosecutor charged with emailing confidential records tied to a high-profile investigation into President Donald Trump.
Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, 62, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, faces four serious charges stemming from her handling of the final report by a special counsel: one felony count of obstruction of justice, one felony count of concealing government records, and two misdemeanor counts of theft of government property valued at less than $1,000.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Lineberger allegedly altered electronic file names of government records to conceal unauthorized transmissions of the documents to her personal email accounts, raising questions about the extent of her actions and the potential damage caused.
At the time of the alleged misconduct, Lineberger was serving as the Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Fort Pierce branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, a position that granted her access to sensitive information.
The charges against Lineberger were announced on Wednesday, with a federal court appearance resulting in her pleading not guilty to the allegations, which include allegations that she forwarded confidential material to her personal email account, disguising it as a dessert recipe to avoid detection.
If convicted, Lineberger faces severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison on the obstruction charge, three years for concealment or removal of public records, and up to one year on each theft count, a prospect that could significantly impact her future.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the case has sparked concerns about the handling of sensitive information within the Department of Justice and the potential consequences for those involved in similar misconduct.
The developments in this case have raised questions about the integrity of the investigation into President Trump and the actions of those involved in handling confidential records.
