Donald Trump, former US president, acknowledged that he withheld “secret” military information and that he had not declassified it. The former representative’s statements would have taken place on recording during a 2021. meeting. The material was obtained and released by CNN.
“As president, I could have disqualified [como sigilosas]but now I can’t,” Trump said in the transcript of the audio files.
At the meeting in question, Trump would be discussing a Pentagon document on the attack on Iran.
The “return” of the discussions on the subject refers to the opening of a new lawsuit against Trump by the American Justice. Special Counsel Jack Smith is investigating the mishandling of confidential documents by the former head of state.
The details of the indictment were not released, so it is unknown whether any of the seven indictments refer to the recorded 2021 meeting. Still, the recording is significant because it shows that the former president had an understanding that the records he had after who left the White House were confidential.
Trump publicly claimed that all the documents he brought with him to his Florida residence had already become public domain. While being investigated for the veracity of this, he criticized the special counsel’s investigation as a political witch hunt, trying to interfere with his 2024 presidential campaign.
The transcription of the audio recording suggests that Trump is showing the document he is discussing to those present and that he is fully aware that it was classified information.
“Secret. This is secret information. Look, look at this,” Trump said at one point. “This was made by the military and given to me.”
“Well, with Milley – let me see that, I’ll show you an example. He said I wanted to attack Iran. Isn’t that amazing? I got a big stack of papers, this thing just popped up,” Trump said in another excerpt.
Trump continues: “All kinds of things – full pages, look. Wait a minute, let’s see here. I just found it, isn’t it amazing? That totally wins my case, you know. Except it’s highly confidential. Secret. This is secret information. Look, look at this.”
In March, prosecutors subpoenaed Trump for the document mentioned in the 2021 recording. Lawyers for the former president provided some Iran-related documents in response to the subpoena, but were unable to find the document itself.
Trump’s defense said the former president received a subpoena from the Justice Department to appear in court on Tuesday in South Florida.
The Mar-a-Lago investigation is one of two led by Smith, who was named a special counsel in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Smith’s investigation into efforts to annul the 2020 election is still ongoing.
Source: https://www.diariodocentrodomundo.com.br/trump-admite-em-gravacao-ter-guardado-com-ele-documentos-sigilosos-do-pentagono/
