US media has obtained an audio recording in which former President Donald Trump appears to acknowledge retaining a classified document after departing the White House. The recording, which lasts approximately two minutes, was first obtained by CNN.
The recording is said to originate from a July 2021 meeting between Trump and individuals involved in the memoir of his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, at Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey golf club. In the recording, Trump can be heard handling papers and describing them as “highly confidential.” He refers to a document concerning Iran, claiming that it was given to him by the military and that, as president, he could have declassified it. However, he suggests that it remains secret.
Federal prosecutors cited the same audio recording in their indictment of Trump. The indictment alleges that Trump displayed classified documents to individuals without proper security clearance on two occasions. He faces 37 counts, including charges of illegally retaining classified documents and obstructing the government’s attempts to retrieve them. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintained that all the documents he took from the White House were declassified. However, the published audio recording appears to contradict his claims.
It is unclear from the indictment whether the documents mentioned in the recording were ultimately recovered by investigators. Trump’s trial is scheduled for August 14, although there is a possibility of delay pending a judge’s ruling on a motion from prosecutors to postpone it until December 11.
The audio recording adds another layer of complexity to the legal proceedings surrounding Trump and raises concerns about the handling of classified information. The case will continue to unfold as legal arguments and potential delays are addressed in the coming months.
