Former President Donald J. Trump faces 31 counts of willfully retaining national defense secrets.© Sophie Park for The New York Times
Recently surfaced audio recordings of former President Donald J. Trump discussing classified documents in 2021 have raised doubts about his recent assertions. The recording, which is part of the evidence in Mr. Trump's ongoing trial for mishandling classified information, contradicts his claim that he was merely referring to news clippings. This blog post delves into the details of the audio recording and its implications for Mr. Trump's case.
Background
The two-minute audio recording, cited by federal prosecutors in the indictment against Mr. Trump, captured a conversation between him and a publisher/writer working on a memoir by his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows. The discussion took place in July 2021 at Mr. Trump's golf club in Bedminster, N.J. During the conversation, Mr. Trump referred to a "highly confidential" document about Iran, which he couldn't declassify as he was no longer in office. This document was mentioned to refute claims made about General Mark A. Milley's concerns regarding potential crises with Iran after Mr. Trump's re-election loss.
Audio Recording Reveals Contradictions
The audio recording, which was played publicly for the first time by CNN and obtained by The New York Times, contradicts Mr. Trump's recent statements. In an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, he denied presenting classified material during the meeting and claimed to refer only to "newspaper stories, magazine stories, and articles." However, the full recording suggests that Mr. Trump was actually referring to specific documents present in the room, not secondhand accounts.
Discussion and Reactions
Present during the meeting were individuals working on Mark Meadows' autobiography, as well as at least two of Mr. Trump's aides. In the recording, Mr. Trump can be heard shuffling through a stack of papers, describing them as "highly confidential" and "secret information." He appears to show the documents to those present, generating laughter in the room. Furthermore, Mr. Trump laments not being able to declassify the information anymore, as he could have done so while serving as president.
The revelation of the full audio clip undermines arguments made by Mr. Trump's allies that he was exaggerating or mischaracterizing the material. Some of Mr. Trump's lawyers have been aware of the recording since March, and one of the attendees, Margo Martin, was asked about it during a grand jury appearance.
Legal Implications and Arraignment
As a result of the indictment, Mr. Trump faces charges related to illegally retaining 31 classified documents and conspiring with his personal aide, Walt Nauta, to obstruct the government's attempts to retrieve the records. Mr. Nauta's arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday in Federal District Court in Miami. Mr. Trump, as a condition of his release, has been ordered not to discuss the case with Mr. Nauta or the 84 witnesses involved in the special counsel investigation.
The emergence of the audio recording raises significant questions about Mr. Trump's claims regarding classified documents. As the trial continues, the recording will serve as crucial evidence. It remains to be seen how this development will impact the ongoing legal proceedings against the former president and his aides.
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