WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Department prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of former President Donald Trump made after he left office discussing a classified Pentagon document related to a possible attack on Iran, according to reports from press.
CNN, which first reported the recording, said Trump hinted in the audio that he wanted to share the information in the document with others, but was aware there were limits to his ability to declassify files after his presidency ended.
The recorded remarks, made by Trump in July 2021 at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, appear to undermine his repeated claims that he had declassified documents he took from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. at the end of his presidency. The audio could also be crucial help to prosecutors seeking to show that Trump knew he had limited ability to possess classified documents.
The recording was turned over to special counsel Jack Smith, whose team of prosecutors has investigated for months the possible mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and whether Trump or anyone else tried to obstruct the investigation. There are signs that the investigation is in its final stages as prosecutors have interviewed a wide range of witnesses before a grand jury.
No criminal charges have been filed against anyone.
According to CNN, the recording was made during a meeting in Bedminster with Trump aides and two people who worked on the autobiography of the former president’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows.
The TV network said Meadows’ autobiography includes a description of what appears to be the same meeting. A lawyer for Meadows declined to comment Wednesday to The Associated Press.
According to CNN, witnesses such as General Mark Milley, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were questioned about the events. A Milley spokesman declined to comment on reports that he had been interviewed.
A spokesman for the special counsel also declined to comment.
A Trump spokesman said in a statement that the investigation was “meritless” and constituted “continued meddling in the presidential election.”
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