The United States National Archives Administration (NARA) confirmed this Friday that it found classified national security information in the 15 boxes of documents that former President Donald Trump (2017-2021) took from the White House when leaving The charge.
This was explained by the head of NARA, David Ferriero, in a letter in response to several questions posed by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney after learning that these official documents were recovered in January at the residence that the former president has in Florida.
“The National Archives Administration has identified classified national security information in the boxes,” confirmed the senior official in his letter, in which he explained that the Department of Justice has been informed of this finding.
The National Archives continues to analyze the content of the 15 boxes, which it recovered last January from Trump’s residence in Mar-a-Lago (Florida) and hopes to conclude the process on February 25.
Ferreiro also confirmed, as several media outlets had anticipated, that the Republican used to tear up official documents, despite the fact that the presidents are obliged to deliver them to the National Archives when they leave the White House.
“Although the White House staff during the Trump Administration pasted some documents, others that they sent us were not reconstructed,” the official explained.
When they leave the White House, US presidents must deliver all letters, notes, emails and other written communications related to their official duties as president to the National Archives for preservation.
The fact that Trump took those boxes to Florida is a probable violation of the Presidential Records Act, which requires the preservation of such documents.
However, federal prosecutors would have to prove that he intentionally tampered with confidential information or was grossly negligent with him, something complicated and more so in the case of a president who can declassify data at will.
Among the documents taken by the former president were also correspondence sent to him by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the bilateral thaw process, which Trump once described as “love letters.”
After this issue was uncovered last week in various media, Trump limited himself to issuing a statement to warn that the documents he had taken “were delivered easily and without conflict and in a very friendly manner” to the National Archives.
In addition, he said that this material will be exhibited one day in the presidential library that will bear his name, which is an idea that has been cooking since he left power.
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