The Controversy Surrounding Trump’s Documents

New York – continued

Publication date: June 12, 2023 10:40 PM KSA

Introduction

A lawyer for former US President Donald Trump and his allies defended his “right to keep documents after leaving the White House as personal (souvenirs) or declassified documents,” denouncing the “political harassment” he faces. Trump’s lawyer’s statements came a day after prosecutors released a 37-count indictment against the former president, saying he mishandled documents containing some of the nation’s most important security secrets after leaving the White House in 2021.

Trump’s Defense

Before her client appeared in federal court in Miami, Florida, Trump’s lawyer asserted that “he has every right to keep confidential documents after they’ve been declassified.” She added that “These are souvenirs, things that he has the right to take,” denying that her client could plead guilty. In turn, Trump ally, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, told CNN: “The president’s ability to classify and control access to national security information stems from the Constitution … He said he declassified this material, and he can put it where he wants, and he can dispose of it as he wants.”

The Indictment

The indictment, which was released on Thursday, dismisses that argument, previously put forward by Donald Trump. The former real estate mogul was indicted on 37 counts because, when leaving the White House, he handed over thousands of documents, some of which were classified, that were to be transferred to the National Archives, and because he then refused to return most of them despite requests from the FBI.

The Allegations

The indictment alleges that in July 2021, at his golf club in New Jersey, Trump disclosed to four individuals who were not authorized to access defense secrets a “plan of attack” prepared for him by the Department of Defense when he was president. In an audio recording cited in the court document, he said: “As president, I could declassify it … I can’t now, it’s still confidential.” According to the indictment, the secret documents included “information about the defenses of the United States and foreign countries”, “on the US nuclear programs” and “potential vulnerabilities in the event of an attack on the United States and its allies.”

Response to the Indictment

In a statement to Fox News, former Attorney General Bill Barr, who became critical of Trump after working with him, said the indictment was “very detailed.” Barr felt: “The idea that the president has every right to classify any document as personal … is absurd.” According to a poll by Ipsos and ABC News that was released on Sunday, 47% of participants polled on Friday and Saturday considered the allegations in the case “politically motivated.” compared to 37% who didn’t think so. Meanwhile, 61% of respondents consider the lawsuit against Trump “very serious” (42%) or “somewhat serious” (19%).