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 stories and articles.
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. The evidence obtained by special counsel Jack Smith raises questions about Trump’s claims regarding the declassification of documents and his knowledge of possessing restricted materials after leaving the White House.
How does the inclusion of the audio recording in the federal indictment strengthen the case against Trump regarding his mishandling of classified information?
The article, provides further evidence of Trump’s mishandling of classified information. The recording directly contradicts Trump’s statements that all the documents he possessed after leaving office were declassified and that he was unaware of the Iran document in his possession.
The inclusion of the audio recording in the federal indictment against Trump strengthens the case against him. The indictment includes 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, highlighting the seriousness of the legal trouble he is facing.
Furthermore, the recording reveals Trump acknowledging that he had the power as president to declassify the document, but chose not to do so. This raises questions about his motives for keeping the document classified and potential implications for national security.
Prosecutors have also detailed instances in which Trump disclosed sensitive papers without proper security measures to individuals who lacked the necessary security clearances. One example mentioned in the indictment is Trump showing a classified map to a representative of his political action committee and expressing that he should not be sharing it.
Overall, the 2021 audio recording mentioned in the article serves as crucial evidence in the legal case against former President Donald Trump. It undermines his claims of declassifying all documents in his possession after leaving office and raises concerns about his handling of classified information.
This revelation further highlights the alarming lack of regard for national security exhibited by President Trump. Such behavior compromises diplomatic relations and jeopardizes the safety of our country. Accountability is crucial to ensure the preservation of classified information and the credibility of our leadership.