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Opinion

Trump’s possession of classified documents is illegal and dangerous

Aug 26, 2022

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On the heels of the controversial search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, reports have recently surfaced that within the 26 boxes officials left with, more than 300 were unclassified documents. These include materials from the FBI, CIA and National Security agency on “topics of national security.” Straight Arrow News contributor Rashad Richey breaks down Trump’s defenses and the confusion even amongst his own legal team:

So let’s look at the defenses here for Donald Trump. Giuliani goes on television, Rudy Giuliani, former attorney for Trump — lost his law license because of his affiliation with Donald — he goes on TV and says, “Well, you know, he was just preserving the records. He was just preserving confidential information. He was preserving classified information.” Well, that’s an admission of guilt, Giuliani. Because what you’re saying he did, he’s saying he did not do. While you’re saying that he was, in fact, in possession of classified documents, his camp is saying he was not.

Here’s the spin from Trump’s camp: Trump’s camp is presenting that the documents were actually declassified because of some standing order that nobody knew about — what Trump said while he was president — If he took the documents, they were declassified. Nobody heard this standing order. Nobody knows about it. And frankly, over 18 people associated with the former Trump White House say it never happened, it’s a complete lie, a fairy tale, fantasy, made-up.

So Trump wants us to believe that he declassified the information. Keep this in mind — declassification does not simply exist for the president, meaning if something is declassified, it’s declassified for everybody, meaning you and I can now have access to it. He did not declassify the information nor did he want it declassified. He had the opportunity to actually declassify this information while he was president and when he was exiting the White House. He chose not to, you know why? Because if you declassified the information, it loses its value. A secret is only valuable because only a few people are aware. So why would you think — why do you think — the former president of the United States chose not to declassify this information? That’s the question.

Now we have information that the former president of the United States, Donald J. Trump may have actually been in possession of over 300 combined classified documents. Now keep in mind is illegal for a former president to have access to one. All right. One, according to this narrative, he had over 300. Now, about 150 have been absolutely confirmed for the record. So let me first take you to the new report. The documents retrieved by the National Archives, obviously, back in January that included 150. Well, now we know that at least 150. More have been added to that, given the recent raid and other attempts to get information or get this classified information away from Donald Trump. This did not just start, this has been a year long process trying to get these documents back from the former president of the United States. This is damning. Now, according to the report, this information relates to the CIA, National Security Agency and the FBI. Another report said that some of the information included info about nuclear weapons technology in the United States, you don’t get more detrimental than top secret intelligence agencies and nuclear weapons programs. Remember, nuclear weaponry is civilized a civilization ended it can end an entire civilization. Right? That’s a big deal. So let’s look at the defenses here for Donald Trump. Giuliani goes on television, Rudy Giuliani, former attorney for Trump lost his law license because of his affiliation with Donald. He goes on TV and says, Well, you know, he was just preserving the records. He was just preserving confidential information. He was preserving classified information. Well, that’s an admission of guilt. Giuliani. If you were still Trump’s attorney, you would have just convicted him of espionage. Because what you’re saying he did. He’s saying he did not do while you’re saying that he was in fact, in possession of classified documents. His camp is saying he was not. Here’s the spin from Trump’s camp. Trump’s camp is presenting that the documents were actually declassified because of some standing order that nobody knew about what Trump said while he was president. If he took the documents they will does declassified. Nobody heard this standing order. Nobody knows about it. And frankly, over 18 people associated with the former Trump White House say to never happen. It’s a complete lie, a fairy tale fantasy made up.

So Trump wants us to believe that he declassified the information, keep this in mind.

declassification does not simply exist for the President, meaning if something is declassified is declassified for everybody, meaning you and I can now have access to it. He did not declassified the information nor that he wanted declassified. He had the opportunity to actually declassify this information while he was president. And when he was exiting the White House, he chose not to you know why? Because if you declassified the information, it loses its value. A secret is only valuable because only a few people are aware. So why would you think why do you think the former president of the united states chose not to declassify this information?

That’s the question.

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