Topline
Former President Donald Trump claimed his behavior in a newly leaked recording in which he’s heard rustling papers he describes as confidential was “bravado,” he told reporters Tuesday, claiming he didn’t actually have any classified documents on hand—downplaying a key piece of evidence in the Justice Department’s case against him.
Former president Donald Trump arrives for an event at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. … [+]
Key Facts
During the audio recording of a 2021 meeting at his Bedminster golf club publicized by CNN Monday, Trump describes—and appears to tell aides to “look at”—Pentagon records to dispute an unflattering report that he wanted to attack Iran: “These are the papers . . . this totally wins my case, you know, except it is highly confidential, secret information.”
But Trump claimed Tuesday none of the records he was handling during the meeting were classified, telling Semafor and ABC News “It was bravado . . . I had no documents.”
Earlier Tuesday, Trump told Fox News the recording—which is featured heavily in the Justice Department’s indictment against him—is “just another hoax” and “election interference more than anything else.”
Trump insisted to Fox he “did nothing wrong” and that the papers he was handling were “mostly newspaper articles, copies of magazines, copies of different plans, copies of stories having to do with many, many subjects.”
When asked by Semafor and ABC what “plans” Trump was referring to in the Fox interview, he said “did I use the word plans? . . . you know, building plans. I had plans of a golf course.”
Crucial Quote
In the recording, Trump acknowledged that he did not have the authority to declassify the documents he was discussing. “See as president I could have declassified it. Now I can’t,” he said, contradicting his previous claims the documents he took after leaving office were declassified.
What We Don’t Know
Who leaked the documents to CNN. Trump claimed, without evidence, on Truth Social Monday that Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith “working in conjunction with the DOJ & FBI, illegally leaked and ‘spun’ a tape and transcript of me which is actually an exoneration.”
Key Background
The Justice Department indicted Trump June 8 on 37 counts related to his handling of classified documents after leaving office, including 31 counts of violating an Espionage Act provision that prohibits willful retention of national defense information. Prosecutors allege the Bedminster meeting is one of at least two incidents when Trump showed classified records to people without proper security clearance. In the recording aired Monday, Trump attempts to debunk a New Yorker report claiming Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley was concerned that Trump wanted to attack Iran, arguing that the papers he possessed proved the strike was Milley’s idea. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, the Justice Department brought the case at President Joe Biden’s behest to hurt his re-election chances.
Further Reading
‘Just Another Hoax’: Trump Brushes Off Leaked Audio Of Him Discussing Classified Iran Docs (Forbes)
CNN Airs Tape Of Trump Appearing To Discuss Classified Defense Documents (Forbes)
Trump Admits Taking ‘Secret’ Document About Iran Attack Without Declassifying It In Audio Recording, Report Says (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/06/28/trump-insists-he-didnt-show-off-classified-docs-in-taped-2021-meeting-it-was-bravado/