A newly emerged recording features former President Trump acknowledging that he retained classified Pentagon documents.
The documents involved a potential attack on Iran during a meeting held in the summer of 2021. This startling revelation contradicts Trump’s assertions of having declassified all pertinent information.
This recording indicates that Trump was conscious of possessing classified material even post-presidency, as revealed by sources familiar with the investigation. One source informed CNN that the portion related to the Iran document lasted about two minutes, while another said it was a minor part of a larger meeting.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has zeroed in on this meeting as part of a criminal inquiry into Trump’s management of national security secrets. The recording is considered substantial evidence in a potential case against Trump, who has steadfastly asserted his ability to retain presidential records and to declassify documents at will.
Prosecutors have questioned witnesses about the recording and the document before a federal grand jury. This incident has attracted enough scrutiny to warrant questioning General Mark Milley, a high-profile national security official from the Trump era, about his potential involvement.
The meeting took place in July 2021 at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Attendees included those working on the autobiography of Trump’s former Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, and former aides of the ex-president, including communications specialist Margo Martin. Sources report that these attendees did not possess the required security clearances to access classified information.This disclosure of Trump discussing a classified document on tape could amplify his legal liability as he embarks on his third presidential campaign. However, Trump has staunchly denied any wrongdoing. When asked during a recent CNN town hall whether he had shown classified documents retained post-presidency to anyone, Trump denied doing so but emphasized his prerogative to do so, claiming that the documents were declassified afterward.
