In a stunning development, sources have leaked new evidence to the press that suggests former President Donald Trump may have obstructed justice. The evidence, which is still under investigation, includes emails and text messages that appear to show Trump and his allies trying to conceal classified documents from the government.
The leak comes at a time when Trump is already facing a number of legal challenges, including a criminal investigation into his role in the January 6th Capitol riot. If the new evidence is credible, it could add to the mounting legal pressure on Trump.
The evidence that has been leaked to the press includes emails and text messages between Trump and his allies, as well as records from the National Archives and Records Administration. The emails and text messages appear to show Trump and his allies discussing how to conceal classified documents from the government.
This information was originally discussed on a recording and was ultimately published in Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows’ biography, a fact that will be used to bolster the DOJ’s claims.
The biography said, “Federal prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of a summer 2021 meeting in which former President Donald Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran, multiple sources told CNN, undercutting his argument that he declassified everything.
The recording indicates Trump understood he retained classified material after leaving the White House, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation. On the recording, Trump’s comments suggest he would like to share the information but he’s aware of limitations on his ability post-presidency to declassify records, two of the sources said.”
The leak of this new evidence is a major development in the ongoing investigation into Trump’s possible obstruction of justice. If the evidence is credible, it could lead to criminal charges against Trump.
Conservatives have responded to the leak of the new evidence with a mixture of skepticism and alarm. Some conservatives have dismissed the evidence as being politically motivated, while others have expressed concern that Trump may have actually obstructed justice.
Those who dismiss the evidence as being politically motivated point to the fact that it has been leaked to the press by anonymous sources. They argue that the evidence is therefore unreliable and should not be taken seriously.
Those who are concerned that Trump may have actually obstructed justice point to the fact that the evidence appears to show Trump and his allies trying to conceal classified documents from the government. They argue that this behavior is consistent with obstruction of justice.
New: Trump acknowledged he retained a classified Pentagon document in an audio tape obtained by Special Counsel Jack Smith — confirming CNN. Our sources indicate this doc was classified at the SECRET level, the kind of doc DOJ would be inclined to charge.
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) May 31, 2023