Report: Trump Recorded Discussing Classified Docs

Facts

• According to sources who spoke with CNN, federal prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of former Pres. Trump. The tape purportedly reveals Trump admitting that he was in possession of classified documents — allegedly regarding a proposed attack on Iran — after leaving office.¹
• Though CNN hasn't listened to the recorded meeting, sources say it suggested Trump wanted to share the information but that he was aware of the limitations on his ability to declassify documents after his presidency.²
• This comes as the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ), under the leadership of Special Counsel Jack Smith, is investigating whether Trump broke the law by retaining US government records, some marked as top secret, after leaving office in January 2021. Smith spokesman Peter Carr declined to comment on the report.³
• Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows's book appears to mention the meeting, saying Trump "recalls a four-page report... by (Trump’s former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) Mark Milley," which "contained [Milley's] own plan to attack Iran, deploying massive numbers of troops," though CNN was told Milley didn't write it.²
• Prosecutors have reportedly interviewed witnesses about the recording, which is said to be about two minutes long but part of a longer conversation, before a grand jury. General Milley has also been reportedly questioned.¹
• This comes as Smith has reportedly also acquired evidence showing Trump tried to obstruct the investigation by hiding documents from the government. This allegedly occurred after he was subpoenaed to return all classified documents in his possession.⁴

Sources: ¹Raw Story, ²CNN, ³Reuters, and ⁴Independent.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by Huffington Post. Trump's defense in the classified documents case was weak to begin with and this recording throws any chance he had out the window. Even his own former White House lawyer said this audio recording will be extremely damaging. The facts are that Trump knew he was breaking the law, told people he knew so, and continued to withhold classified material that belonged to the government despite his and his colleagues' better judgment.
• Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Townhall. Catching Trump on legal technicalities doesn't matter in this case. What matters is that these documents were unlawfully taken by a corrupt FBI, they haven't proven that consequential, and a significant portion of the American people believe this entire saga is a politically-motivated witch hunt to prevent Trump from running in 2024. The establishment left and its corrupt friends at the DOJ and intelligence agencies don't care about breaking the big rules. Why should Americans care if Trump kept a few inconsequential pieces of paper?
• Cynical narrative, as provided by CNN. That two presidents — both Trump and Biden — have been called out for possessing documents they shouldn’t have had should shed a light on the issue of overclassification, which has increased exorbitantly over the past decade, creating an administrative nightmare. There must be reforms to the flawed classification system.

Predictions