Former President Donald Trump is facing serious legal trouble as The Washington Post has obtained a 2021 audio recording in which he appears to brag about possessing a classified document related to Iran that he did not declassify before leaving office. The recording, made at a meeting at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, N.J., is a crucial piece of evidence obtained by special counsel Jack Smith and undermines Trump’s claims that he had declassified documents or was unaware of possessing restricted documents after leaving the White House.
In the recording, which was referenced in the federal indictment against Trump and first aired by CNN, Trump describes a multi-page document that he alleges is about a possible attack on Iran. He acknowledges that as president, he could have declassified it but can no longer do so. This contradicts his recent claims that everything he took with him was declassified and that he was unaware of the Iran document being among the materials recovered at Mar-a-Lago by the FBI and Justice Department.
The indictment against Trump includes 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents. Prosecutors outlined two instances in which Trump disclosed sensitive papers in unsecured environments after his presidency to individuals without the necessary security clearances. One of these instances involved Trump showing a classified map of “Country B” to an unnamed representative of his political action committee and expressing that he shouldn’t be sharing it.
The audio recording, quoted in the indictment, captures a meeting Trump held at his Bedminster golf club in July 2021 with two staffers, as well as the publisher and writer of an upcoming book, believed to be a memoir by Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows. Meadows described the scene in his book, “The Chief’s Chief,” where Trump discussed a four-page document he claimed was an invasion plan for Iran, allegedly written by the Defense Department and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Former military officials have previously stated that Milley never recommended attacking Iran. However, it was customary for the Pentagon to prepare memos outlining various military options to respond to foreign adversaries. The Pentagon did have a memo for a military attack on Iran as one conceivable option, but it was not written by Milley.
During the recording, Trump refers to the document as “highly confidential” and “secret information.” He expresses his satisfaction, stating, “You probably didn’t believe me, but now you believe me. It’s incredible.” This contradicts Trump’s recent interview with Fox News, where he denied referring to an actual document during the conversation at Bedminster and claimed he was discussing newspaper and magazine stories.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment at a federal courthouse in Miami earlier this month. The first pretrial conference in the case is scheduled for July 14, presided over by Judge Aileen M. Cannon.
The audio recording and the federal indictment present significant challenges for Trump as he faces the legal consequences of allegedly mishandling classified documents.
What specific details are mentioned in the audio recording at the golf club meeting that demonstrate Trump’s knowledge and power to declassify the classified document related to Iran
Of these instances specifically mentions the audio recording at the golf club meeting.
The revelation of this audio recording adds significant weight to the legal trouble that former President Donald Trump currently faces. The recording, obtained by The Washington Post and referenced in a federal indictment, shows Trump bragging about possessing a classified document related to Iran that he did not declassify before leaving office.
During the meeting at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., Trump describes the multi-page document and acknowledges that he had the power to declassify it as president, but can no longer do so. This directly contradicts his recent claims that all the materials he took with him were declassified and that he was unaware of the Iran document being among the recovered materials at Mar-a-Lago.
This crucial piece of evidence undermines Trump’s defense and strengthens the case against him. Special counsel Jack Smith has obtained the recording and included it in the indictment, which includes 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents.
Prosecutors have outlined two instances in which Trump disclosed sensitive papers without appropriate security measures after his presidency. One of these instances specifically references the audio recording at the golf club meeting. With this evidence in hand, the legal troubles for former President Donald Trump are intensifying.
This audio recording further exposes the alarming disregard for national security displayed by the former president. Trump’s unabashed bragging about possessing classified Iran documents raises serious questions about his leadership and suitability for office. Actions like these only undermine the credibility of the United States and endanger our relationships with foreign partners.