But the focus on the tapes is the latest effort by Mr. Smith to determine whether Mr. Trump or his aides engaged in any sort of obstructive behavior.
There is no indication that Mr. Taveras is a subject of Mr. Smith’s investigation.
All three men — Mr. Taveras, Mr. Deoliveira and Mr. Nauta — have been questioned extensively by prosecutors over their roles in handling the boxes and the tapes.
Nonetheless, one person briefed on the events said the interactions concerning the security tapes were enough to arouse suspicion among Mr. Smith’s investigators.
Moreover, people briefed on witness interviews say, it has become clear that Mr. Smith views a number of people connected to Mr. Trump with skepticism.
Persons:
Mr, Taveras, Smith, Trump, Trump’s, Stanley Woodward Jr, Deoliveira’s, John Irving, Deoliveira, Nauta
Organizations:
Justice Department, National Archives, Mr