Trump captured on tape talking about classified document he kept after leaving the White House

It appears that the DOJ has some very incriminating evidence against Donald Trump in the Mar-a-Lago documents scandal. According to the article from CNN (link below) there are both witnesses and audiotape of Trump discussing at least one classified document concerning US contingency plans for an attack on Iran. In the taped conversation he acknowledges that he has the document and that he knows that he can no longer declassify it, being that he is no longer president. The persons he discussed this with did not have security clearances, so that in effect he was divulging classified information, which makes him susceptible to prosecution under the Espionage Act. It also undercuts his claim that he declassified all the documents in his possession.

CNN

Federal prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of a summer 2021 meeting in which former President Donald Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran, multiple sources told CNN, undercutting his argument that he declassified everything.

The recording indicates Trump understood he retained classified material after leaving the White House, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation. On the recording, Trump’s comments suggest he would like to share the information but he’s aware of limitations on his ability post-presidency to declassify records, two of the sources said.

CNN has not listened to the recording, but multiple sources described it. One source said the relevant portion on the Iran document is about two minutes long, and another source said the discussion is a small part of a much longer meeting.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the Justice Department investigation into Trump, has focused on the meeting as part of the criminal investigation into Trump’s handling of national security secrets. Sources describe the recording as an “important” piece of evidence in a possible case against Trump, who has repeatedly asserted he could retain presidential records and “automatically” declassify documents.

Prosecutors have asked witnesses about the recording and the document before a federal grand jury. The episode has generated enough interest for investigators to have questioned Gen. Mark Milley, one of the highest-ranking Trump-era national security officials, about the incident.

The revelation that the former president and commander-in-chief has been captured on tape discussing a classified document could raise his legal exposure as he continues his third bid for the White House.

Trump and his attorneys have given several different, often conflicting, explanations for why Trump didn’t intentionally retain classified materials in violation of federal law. 

Initially, Trump allies argued he had a “standing declassification order” so that documents removed from the Oval Office were immediately declassified.  A few weeks later, Trump told Fox News that he could declassify things “just by thinking about it.”

Earlier this year, Trump’s legal team told Congress that classified material was inadvertently packed up at the end of the administration. Most recently, Trump told CNN at a town hall that materials were “automatically declassified” when he took them.

However, there’s no indication Trump followed the legally mandated declassification process, and his attorneys have avoided saying so far in court whether Trump declassified records he kept.

The Jack Smith investigation of Trump appears to be leaving no stone unturned. Hence, there may be yet more very incriminating evidence against the twice impeached president who already is charged with 34 felony counts for financial crimes in NY. This account belies Trump's and his legal teams claims about why these classified documents were withheld in the first place, raising his criminal exposure in the case.

It also makes one wonder what additional information the Feds have on Trump regarding the Jan 6 riot at the capitol, and the attempt to thwart the transfer of power to the newly elected president on that day.

a reply to: MrInquisitive

The Tiny-Handed Idiot just can't keep his mouth shut, or understand concepts like 'No, you can't do that, you're not President anymore', can he?
I have also read reports that his legal team is falling apart at the seams because a) they're not very good at what they do and b) they're afraid that one of them is leaking to the Feds. Neither would surprise me.

It must be nice to have access to that kind of information.

The Clinton's took cases of documents to black mail everyone they could, Biden took cases of documents to sell to China but forgot them just laying around... Obama must have shipped what he stole to Kenya, or maybe slipped it into the shipping containers of cash he sent to isis, because nobody talks about his contribution to this mess.

As for the feds on Jan 6?
Did you see the videos? That wasn't an insurrection, it was a guided tour. Just one more example on an endless list of times the "orange man bad" committee has decided to chant a lie loud and long enough that people who aren't paying attention just might believe it.

I'm confused of the narrative now. The left wants a Trump Biden rematch, as they cannot win a Biden vs. anyone else matchup. But they also want a win on "getting Trump". If they do get him, we won't see their matchup taking place. And Biden might be knee deep in an impeachment of his own.

If the leaky special council looking into Trump's documents really has the goods on him, then he won't be able to skate. But this will put pressure on the other folks with classified document issues.

We live in interesting times.

a reply to: MrInquisitive

A little bit of other information that came out later last night, the source for this recording is Margo Martin. Martin was the Deputy Director of Communications for Trump's Save America PAC, but now works for Trump's campaign.

Trump was being interviewed by a couple of Mark Meadows' aides that were gathering information for Meadows memoir. Martin was known to record such interviews.

Apparently, during the interview Trump went off on a rant about Milley which led to him mentioning a Secret document in his possession about a planned possible invasion of Iran.

a reply to: network dude

Why would it put pressure on others? If there's no evidence they knowingly retained the documents and no evidence they intentionally showed them to other people then no law was broken.

a reply to: MrInquisitive


I say get him!

But first, get Hillary (still waiting...), then Joe, then 100 others, then Trump since he is the newest in line.

Federal prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of a summer 2021 meeting in which former President Donald Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran, multiple sources told CNN, undercutting his argument that he declassified everything.

That means evidence, right? They finally got him! Caught red-handed! We can expect an arrest warrant to be executed and Trump jailed sometime today, right?

Gawd, this gets old. The FBI is illegally refusing to had over records of the Biden crime family, and crickets. People are so hung up on joining the 'I hate Trump' club that they can't look around and see which administration brought our country to the lowest level since the Depression.

The old saying is true: "hatred will poison the vessel that carries it". It appears that it also impairs ones' ability to think rationally.

a reply to: MrInquisitive

Whew. That was close. Could you imagine if he had been reelected. We would probably be close to thermonuclear war.....wait....hasn't Biden and his administration gotten us closer to that than ever before? But....I guess stopping a former President that wasn't a Warhawk is better for the world....somehow.

originally posted by: Threadbare
a reply to: network dude

Why would it put pressure on others? If there's no evidence they knowingly retained the documents and no evidence they intentionally showed them to other people then no law was broken.

a top secret document was removed from a SCIF and found it's way to Joe's garage. You may have no clue what that means, but having held a clearance, I do.

Just the other day someone from the national archives said that no president since at least Reagan has handled classified documents correctly. Yet none of them have been investigated, let alone charged. So, clearly this isn't really a problem. Unless your name is Trump.

Meanwhile, the FBI is flagrantly hiding incriminating evidence against Biden. Wray just admitted that the document detailing a $5 million bribe does exist, but they won't turn it over for review despite it not being classified.

So, the FBI can quite frankly kiss my ass.

originally posted by: highvein
a reply to: MrInquisitive

Whew. That was close. Could you imagine if he had been reelected. We would probably be close to thermonuclear war.....wait....hasn't Biden and his administration gotten us closer to that than ever before? But....I guess stopping a former President that wasn't a Warhawk is better for the world....somehow.

he was fixing too many things. that's not how it works.

originally posted by: AndyFromMichigan
Just the other day someone from the national archives said that no president since at least Reagan has handled classified documents correctly. Yet none of them have been investigated, let alone charged. So, clearly this isn't really a problem. Unless your name is Trump.

Meanwhile, the FBI is flagrantly hiding incriminating evidence against Biden. Wray just admitted that the document detailing a $5 million bribe does exist, but they won't turn it over for review despite it not being classified.

So, the FBI can quite frankly kiss my ass.

You do realize this also would not have been any problem right? It's not that he had them. It's that he refused to give them back, then months later accepted the subpoena, but removed and hid documents to a known non secure area,
had his attorney sign a false statement saying that all documents with classified markings were returned, and come to find out he may have been sharing that info while stating he understood that he could not at that time declassify those docs.

Slightly different than he didn't realize he had them and had his team work immediately to return them all. Had he done so, I agree. Non issue.

George Conway -

It would actually be perfect for the most colossally nihilistic moron the world has ever seen to go to prison for doing something so brazenly illegal, yet at the same time so unimaginably pointless and stupid.

originally posted by: knoxie
George Conway -

is an idiot.

Oh Lordy there ARE tapes!

What country would be interested in this?

Saudi Arabia by chance?

Hmmmm, when was the 2 billion golf dealio made with the Saudi prince?

a reply to: MrInquisitive

Joe Biden extortion of Ukraine tape takes precedent.

I thought this was a bad thing as well, apparently nothing happens.
a reply to: network dude

a reply to: MrInquisitive

So?

And?

You honestly can't expect anyone with an IQ above room temp to get upset over this, can you?

With all the stories and silencing of stories about others violating laws, about stories where leftist DA's are decriminalizing crimes, releasing rapists and murderers into the streets, you want JUSTICE?

For Realz? (as the kids say)

Justice is dead. It's a joke.

This is Kangaroo court-level BS.

Joe Biden could rape a busload of dead nuns and the left would silence the story or make it legal.

Trump could fart at a Hobby Lobby and be arrested for domestic terrorism.

OOOOoooOOOOOOooooooo. . . . Tiny-Hand OMB did something?

So the # what!

a reply to: DBCowboy

Biden is being investigated for having classified documents as well. But, you just liked to whine and make crap - pizzagate!!