A former Department of Justice lawyer has been indicted for allegedly stealing crucial files related to special prosecutor Jack Smith’s sealed report concerning former President Donald Trump. Carmen Lineberger, who once served as managing assistant U.S. attorney in Fort Pierce, Florida, stands accused of unlawfully transmitting sensitive government documents to her personal email account.
The indictment alleges that Lineberger concealed her actions by renaming the stolen files with innocuous titles such as “chocolate cake recipe” and “bundt cake recipe.” These misleading subject lines masked the unauthorized transfer of information that was under a court order to remain sealed and restricted from distribution outside the DOJ.
According to the charges, she altered the electronic file names of government records she obtained through her official role, enabling her to evade detection. The documents included internal DOJ communications and a court-ordered confidential report tied to a criminal prosecution in the Southern District of Florida.
The government’s complaint states that by transmitting the report outside the Department of Justice, Lineberger knowingly violated the sealing order, potentially impairing the underlying prosecution’s administration. The FBI and DOJ Office of the Inspector General jointly investigated the case, with the prosecution led by a special assistant U.S. attorney to prevent conflicts of interest.
If convicted, Lineberger faces severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison for one count of theft of government property and up to three years for destroying or concealing public records. The indictment underscores the seriousness of breaches involving confidential federal investigations and the protections around court-ordered sealed materials.