US prosecutors have obtained an audio recording in which former President, Donald Trump acknowledges retaining a classified document even after leaving the White House.
CNN initially reported the existence of the tape, which has since been confirmed by sources close to the matter speaking to CBS, the BBC’s US partner.
The justice department is currently investigating Trump’s handling of classified material, a matter that he vehemently denies.
The probe is reportedly in its final stages and may result in criminal charges.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the audio recording captures a meeting held at Trump’s New Jersey golf club in July 2021, approximately six months after his presidency ended.
In the recording, Trump is heard acknowledging the existence of national security restrictions on a military memo outlining a potential attack on Iran.
One individual stated that Trump recognized the memo was still classified and should have been declassified before his departure from the White House.
Furthermore, Trump expressed a desire to share information contained in the document but was aware of his limited authority to declassify it as he was no longer president, as reported by CNN.
The exact nature of Trump’s possession of the document during the meeting is unclear.
It remains uncertain whether he physically had the document or merely described its contents to his aides, although some reports suggest the presence of rustling paper sounds in the recording.
The audio recording seemingly contradicts Trump’s repeated claims that he declassified all materials taken from the White House.
If prosecutors seek to demonstrate that the former president knowingly possessed classified documents, this tape could become a crucial piece of evidence.
Neither the BBC nor CBS News has independently verified or listened to the audio recording, and it has not been made public.
However, it has been handed over to justice department investigators under the supervision of special prosecutor Jack Smith.
The investigation has intensified in recent weeks, focusing on the removal of hundreds of classified government documents from the White House, which were subsequently transported to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after his presidency concluded.
Investigators are examining the storage of these documents, as well as those who had access to them.
They are also scrutinizing the response of Trump’s team to a request for security footage from his Florida estate.
Ultimately, it will be up to special prosecutor Jack Smith to determine whether criminal charges should be brought against the former president.
The justice department is considering potential violations of the Espionage Act related to Trump’s retention of national security information after leaving office.
In addition to this investigation, Trump is facing multiple legal challenges. Recently indicted in New York for alleged hush money payments to a porn star, he has pleaded not guilty.
Furthermore, he is the subject of an ongoing investigation in Georgia regarding his alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state.
As these legal battles unfold, Trump’s political future remains uncertain, with his intention to run for president again in 2024 hanging in the balance.
The revelation of this audio recording adds another layer of complexity to an already tumultuous legal landscape surrounding the former president.
