In an audio recording obtained by CNN this week, former president Donald Trump seems to acknowledge that he has kept classified national security documents, stating on the leaked two-minute audio that “these are the papers” and referring to their “highly confidential” nature.
The tape originates in a July 2021 meeting at the former prez’s Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ. CNN describes the audio as “critical” evidence in the most recent indictment Trump faces, this time for illegally retaining national security secrets and for obstruction of justice.
READ MORE: Donald Trump Reportedly Showed Classified Documents To Mar-a-Lago Visitors
Trump On Tape: 'This Is Still A Secret'
The July 2021 recording was made with attendees that were working on the memoir of Mark Meadows, Trump's former Chief of Staff. Those privy to the meeting, according to the special counsel's indictment, include a writer, publisher, and two of Trump's staff members, along with Trump himself. And, at this meeting, the former president allegedly showed the attendees classified information about a planned attack on Iran—despite none of those present having the appropriate security clearances to be allowed access to this information.
The audio first aired on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, and included details that make up important evidence in the case against Trump brought by special counsel Jack Smith for mishandling classified information. The pertinent area of the conversation begins as the group is discussing a New Yorker article that claimed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley argued against striking Iran, and was concerned President Trump would launch a full-scale conflict. Some of the audio is transcribed as follows:
Trump: "[Gen. Mark Milley] said that I wanted to attack Iran, Isn’t it amazing?" [sound of shuffling papers can be heard] "I have a big pile of papers, this thing just came up. Look. This was him. They presented me this – this is off the record but – they presented me this. This was him. This was the Defense Department and him."
The former president and an aide then chat a bit about presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's "email scandal" and the investigation into her handling of classified information. The conversation then returns to the Iran document:
Trump: "I was just thinking, because we were talking about it. And you know, he said, 'He wanted to attack Iran, and what…' These are the papers. This was done by the military and given to me," noting that the document he was apparently showing his conversation partners was still classified. "See as president I could have declassified it. Now I can’t, you know, but this is still a secret."
Former President's Second Indictment Has Him Facing 37 Felony Counts
Donald Trump faces 37 felony counts in his second indictment, which relates to illegally retaining national security secrets and obstruction of justice. The former president is also facing charges in his first indictment, which was brought by the Manhattan District Attorney's office in 34 counts of falsifying business records with the goal of disrupting the 2016 election. These allegedly falsified records relate to purported hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, with whom Trump supposedly had an extramarital affair.
Trump, who is currently running for re-election in 2024, had his own response to the bombshell audio leaking to the media: "The Deranged Special Prosecutor, Jack Smith, working in conjunction with the DOJ & FBI, illegally leaked and 'spun' a tape and transcript of me which is actually an exoneration, rather than what they would have you believe," he wrote in a post to his Truth Social platform. "This continuing Witch Hunt is another ELECTION INTERFERENCE Scam. They are cheaters and thugs!"
