Trump classified documents: New evidence shows Trump knew he couldn't take records
by Ryan King, Breaking Politics Reporter |
May 18, 2023 08:26 AM
Government officials said they have evidence proving former President Donald Trump knew documents he took from Mar-a-Lago documents were classified.
The National Archives and Records Administration told Trump of its plans to deliver 16 records to special counsel Jack Smith detailing his understanding of the proper declassification procedure, sources told CNN.
“The 16 records in question all reflect communications involving close presidential advisers, some of them directed to you personally, concerning whether, why, and how you should declassify certain classified records," acting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall wrote to Trump in a May 16 letter, per the report.
Those records were reportedly subject to a subpoena earlier in the year.
Trump has maintained the materials he kept at his Mar-a-Lago home were declassified. Last year, he said, "You can declassify just by saying, 'It's declassified,' even by thinking about it." Trump repeated that theory during a New Hampshire town hall last week, insisting the material was "automatically" declassified when he took it home from the White House.
His team reportedly tried to prevent Smith from gaining access to the records, arguing they were subject to a "constitutionally based privilege." However, Wall said Smith is prepared to prove the records are relevant to his investigation.
Archives officials plan on handing over the records on May 24 unless a court intervenes.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/trump-classified-documents-evidence-shows-trump-knew-couldnt-take-records
