Trump DOJ’s Mishap Reveals Motive in Classified Docs Case

Accidental Revelation

The U.S. Justice Department’s attempt to discredit Special Counsel Jack Smith has backfired, accidentally revealing a key part of his investigation into Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents. The department provided a progress memo from January 2023 to the House Judiciary Committee, intending to give Republicans ammunition against Smith. Instead, the memo, which Trump had previously sought to keep secret, suggests a motive for Trump retaining the documents: his business interests.

A Potential Business Motive

According to Congressman Jamie Raskin, the memo indicates that Trump possessed classified documents relevant to his business dealings, providing a potential reason for him to hold onto them. This revelation comes as a surprise, as the specific motive behind Trump taking hundreds of classified documents after leaving office had remained largely unknown until now. A White House spokesperson has dismissed the findings, calling Jack Smith “deranged and a liar” and asserting Trump’s innocence.

The Memo’s Contents

The progress memo, filed five months before Trump was indicted, also suggests that the documents Trump took were so sensitive that only six people in the entire U.S. government had access to them. The disclosure of these documents, prosecutors believed, posed an “aggravated potential harm to national security.” The memo reportedly details reckless handling of the documents, including storing them in unsecured locations at Mar-a-Lago and a staffer scanning them onto a laptop and uploading them to the cloud.

Flight to Bedminster and Saudi Ties

One striking example cited from the memo involves a classified map that Trump allegedly showed to individuals on a flight to his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club in June 2020. Prosecutors believe Trump’s then-chief of staff, Susie Wiles, witnessed this event. This incident occurred around the same time Trump was entering into business partnerships with Saudi-backed entities, including Live Golf. Raskin noted that the PGA had cut ties with Trump following January 6th, but Saudi-funded ventures later provided him with financial support.

“Without access to Jack Smith’s report on the classified documents or his investigative files, there is no way to know what that classified map contained or what the relationship was between the documents Trump stole and on Trump’s business interests.”

Judge Cannon’s Role

The case against Trump for mishandling classified documents was initially assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump. She dismissed the case, questioning the validity of Smith’s appointment. Smith had documented both the classified documents case and his investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election in a report. However, at Trump’s request, Judge Cannon barred the classified documents report from public release, a move that defies federal court orders regarding the publication of such documents.

Calls for Transparency

Congressman Raskin argues that the Justice Department should release the full report on the classified documents case, pointing out that reports from other special counsels, such as Robert Mueller and Kenneth Starr, have historically been made public. He questions why this particular report is being withheld and suggests that if there is nothing to hide, the report should be released. Raskin also raised questions about whether any of Trump’s family members were aware of the classified documents, given the family’s extensive business dealings and alleged profiteering during Trump’s presidency.

Family Business and Financial Gain

Raskin views the Trump administration as a “money-making operation,” stating that Donald Trump has made more money in one year in office than all previous presidents combined. He asserts that Trump has turned the White House into an instrument for private profit, with his family deeply involved. Trump’s defense against emoluments clause accusations, Raskin explained, is that he is no longer running his business but is merely benefiting from it, a defense Raskin finds questionable given the family’s unified business approach.

Looking Ahead

The accidental release of the progress memo has brought renewed attention to the classified documents case and the potential motives behind Trump’s actions. The public interest in understanding the full scope of the events, including the contents of the classified map and its connection to Trump’s business interests, remains high. The ongoing debate over the release of Jack Smith’s full report will likely continue to shape the public’s understanding of this critical investigation.

Source: Trump DOJ's smear tactic BACKFIRES; reveals Smith's theory of Trump's classified documents case (YouTube)