Former prosecutor charged for disguising sealed Jack Smith report as cake recipe

Published May 20, 2026 4:38pm ET | Updated May 20, 2026 4:38pm ET



A former federal prosecutor in Florida has been indicted on charges that she secretly emailed herself sealed Justice Department records tied to former special counsel Jack Smith’s classified documents investigation into President Donald Trump, allegedly disguising the files as dessert recipes to avoid detection.

Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, 62, of Port St. Lucie, was charged in a newly unsealed federal indictment with theft of government property, destruction or falsification of records in a federal investigation, and concealment or removal of public records. She pleaded not guilty during an arraignment on Wednesday in federal court in West Palm Beach.

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