Lordy, There Are Tapes
AtlanticDec 26, 2022
The 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.
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.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
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
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
That two presidents — both Trump and Biden — have been called out for possessing documents they shouldn’t have had should shed 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.
