An audio clip unveils a conversation between ex-President Donald Trump and an interviewer during a meeting, in which Trump talks about a ‘highly confidential’ document. This revelation contradicts Trump’s later assertion that he possessed only magazine and newspaper cuttings, not such documents.
The clip originates from a July 2021 interview that Trump conducted at his Bedminster, New Jersey resort. This was for those involved in the memoir of Mark Meadows, his former chief of staff. The recording is vital evidence in special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump for alleged mismanagement of classified information.
The indictment by the special counsel suggests that those present at Trump’s meeting — which included a writer, a publisher, and two of Trump’s staff members — were exposed to classified details about a potential Pentagon attack plan on an undisclosed foreign country.
Trump can be heard saying, “These are the papers,” which suggests he’s holding a confidential Pentagon document outlining plans for an attack on Iran. He says, “This was done by the military, given to me.”
His reference to a ‘highly confidential’ matter and his apparent revealing of documents during the 2021 meeting might undermine his recent statement during a Fox News Channel interview that he did not possess such records.
“There was no document. That was a massive amount of papers, and everything else talking about Iran and other things,” Trump declared on Fox. “And it may have been held up or may not, but that was not a document. I didn’t have a document, per se. There was nothing to declassify. These were newspaper stories, magazine stories, and articles.”
Earlier this month, Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 charges concerning the alleged mishandling of classified documents stored at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. This is part of a 38-count indictment that charges his aide and former valet, Walt Nauta. Nauta is scheduled for arraignment next Tuesday before a federal judge in Miami.
A spokesman for Trump’s campaign stated that the audio recording “provides context proving, once again, that President Trump did nothing wrong at all.” Trump claimed via his social media platform that the recording “is an exoneration, rather than what they would have you believe.”
In a series of events that continues to unfold, the contentious audio recording could play a pivotal role in determining the course of the ongoing legal proceedings. How the courts interpret the implications of the recording, as well as Trump’s contradicting statements, could significantly impact the case’s outcome. Regardless, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the strict regulations around classified information, even for the highest office in the land.
