Earl (11-29-2022)
Why did Donald Trump have top secret documents hoarded at Mar-a-Lago?
Was it just a dumb mistake? I guess that’s possible, in the confusion of moving out of the White House after pretending he wasn’t going for months it is conceivable that he just packed it all into one box. He’s well known for not listening to advisers, and he could’ve just said take it all to Mar-A-Lago, but that doesn’t answer the question about why he refused to return them when asked, and then later, when they were subpoenaed.
I guess it’s possible that he could have truly believed those documents were his, but I don’t think Donald Trump is that dumb. He had to know, that those documents were owned by the United States of America. And anyway, what would have been the purpose?
This leads me to my last theory, which is that he saw them as a valuable commodity, leverage he could use against the government to prevent them from ever charging him with a crime, a threat to expose our secrets…. Sinister for sure, but it also means there are other crimes, that he was afraid he would get charged with it.
Any other ideas?
4,487
18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally
44 U.S.C. 2202 - The United States shall reserve and retain complete ownership, possession, and control of Presidential records; and such records shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
LOCK HIM UP!
Earl (11-29-2022)
LurchAddams (11-29-2022), ThatOwlWoman (11-29-2022), Trumpet (11-29-2022)
Earl (11-29-2022), PostmodernProphet (11-29-2022)
He downgraded the documents.
No top secret documents.
Just a minor custody dispute.
Sandy Burger stole stop secret documents and hid them in his pant's leg. No punishment.
A big nothing burger (pun intended).
ExpressLane (11-29-2022), PostmodernProphet (11-29-2022)
How many more dumb threads is the ambulance chaser going to start on the same subject? Ten...twenty.
Callinectes (11-29-2022), ExpressLane (11-29-2022), PostmodernProphet (11-29-2022)
The problem is that Trump was served with a subpoena that required to turn over all documents that contained classification marks. That would include any documents he "declassified" but still contained the classification marks. His failure to comply with the subpoena would point to he committed the crime of obstruction. Then when there appears to be testimony from someone working at Mar-a-Lago where Trump directed that the documents be moved so they wouldn't be found and turned over as the subpoena required. Even as a former President, Trump is not exempt from complying with lawful subpoenas or lawful warrants.
"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid."
"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."
Earl (11-29-2022), ExpressLane (11-29-2022)
Jarod (11-29-2022), Joe Capitalist (11-29-2022), LurchAddams (11-29-2022), ThatOwlWoman (11-29-2022), Trumpet (11-29-2022)
Good question, what was his reason for keeping, and working to keep, the documents?
If it were anyone else, I’d say it was a mistake or oversight, but given it is Trump, who was willing to ignore the will of the people just to maintain power, I’d bet his motivation was purely for personal gain, either selling them or employing them as collateral
Earl (11-29-2022)
Jarod (11-29-2022), LurchAddams (11-29-2022), ThatOwlWoman (11-29-2022)
Nonsense, Hillary set a precedent when she ignored a subpoena from Congress to give up the documents. She destroyed (bleached) them and nothing happened to her.
When Sandy Berger (you might want to learn how to spell names correctly.) did that, the crime was only a misdemeanor. Berger plead guilty, paid a $50,000 fine and did 100 hours of community service. That was for 6 documents.
Since that time Trump signed a law that makes what Berger did a felony. That means Trump having top secret documents would now be a felony. It appears that Trump had over 100 documents that contained classification markings.
Even if Trump declassified them, something he has not been willing to claim in court, the documents were still required to be turned over under a lawful subpoena. Failure to comply with a subpoena can be felony obstruction. One count of obstruction for each document that wasn't turned over.
"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid."
"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."
Jarod (11-29-2022), LurchAddams (11-29-2022)
"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid."
"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."
Earl (11-29-2022)
Joe Capitalist (11-29-2022), LurchAddams (11-29-2022)
4,487
18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally
44 U.S.C. 2202 - The United States shall reserve and retain complete ownership, possession, and control of Presidential records; and such records shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
LOCK HIM UP!
LurchAddams (11-29-2022)
Why wont he let his lawyers make that claim in court? What evidence do you have that documents labeled "Information on President of France" has anything to do with Crossfire Hurricane? Did you make that up or read it on some silly sight where you go to learn what to say about Trump?
4,487
18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally
44 U.S.C. 2202 - The United States shall reserve and retain complete ownership, possession, and control of Presidential records; and such records shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
LOCK HIM UP!
LurchAddams (11-29-2022)
4,487
18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally
44 U.S.C. 2202 - The United States shall reserve and retain complete ownership, possession, and control of Presidential records; and such records shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
LOCK HIM UP!
LurchAddams (11-29-2022)
4,487
18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally
44 U.S.C. 2202 - The United States shall reserve and retain complete ownership, possession, and control of Presidential records; and such records shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
LOCK HIM UP!
LurchAddams (11-29-2022)
4,487
18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally
44 U.S.C. 2202 - The United States shall reserve and retain complete ownership, possession, and control of Presidential records; and such records shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
LOCK HIM UP!
Earl (11-29-2022)
LurchAddams (11-29-2022)
Bookmarks