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In a recent Fox News interview, former Republican President Donald Trump addressed the controversy surrounding his failure to return classified documents after leaving the White House.
Trump's reluctance to hand over the classified documents prompted an investigation. The findings allege obstruction of those federal investigators in addition to possessing, concealing and filing false statements about the documents. During the interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, Trump explained his reasons for not immediately returning the documents, citing personal items that needed to be sorted through.
Trump admitted he was initially hesitant to comply with requests from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to return the classified documents.
He mentioned his desire to retrieve personal belongings, including golf shirts and shoes, from the boxes before turning them over to NARA. Trump asserted he was occupied with various responsibilities, which hindered his ability to promptly address the matter.
You can hear what Trump said in the video below.
\u201cBaier: Why not just hand them over? Trump: Because I had boxes, I want to go through the boxes and get all my personal things\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1687212742
Trump said:
“The only way NARA could ever get this stuff back would be [to say]: ‘Please, please please, could we have it back?’”
To that, Baier responded:
“And they asked for it, they did ask for it. And then they went to DOJ to subpoena you. Why not just hand them over then?”
And that's when Trump's explanation got even more ridiculous:
“Because I had boxes. I want to go through the boxes and get all my personal things out. I don’t want to hand that over to NARA yet. And I was very busy as you’ve sort of seen.”
“Before I send the boxes over, I have to take all of my things out.”
“These boxes were interspersed with all sorts of things. Golf shirts, clothing, pants, shoes.”
Many have mocked Trump's assertion.
\u201c@Acyn Prosecutor: You had so much stuff in the boxes that you're not sure what was in there so you couldn't give the docs back to NARA?\n\nTrump: Yes\n\nLawyer: If you had no idea what docs you had how do you know they were declassified? \n\nExplain it to me like I'm one of your voters.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1687212742
\u201c@Acyn Poor guy. I hear he had a Rubik\u2019s cube in there with two sides solved. Now he\u2019s never going to finish that thing.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1687212742
\u201c@Acyn 1. They were planted.\n2. They were declassified in my mind.\n3. I can keep classified documents.\n4. I didn\u2019t have time to go through them.\n\nHow many excuses are we up to now?\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1687212742
\u201c@Acyn Who hasn\u2019t kept nuclear secrets with their golf shirts? I mean honestly.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1687212742
\u201c@ian484848 @Acyn So kind of him to give the prosecution all this material.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1687212742
\u201c@Acyn If this is his defense it will be a very short trial.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1687212742
\u201c@Acyn This trial should last less than 30 seconds\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1687212742
\u201c@Acyn Apparently, classified government documents...interspersed with all sorts of things...golf shirts, clothing, pants, shoes...many things.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1687212742
Addressing the allegation of retaining sensitive files, Trump denied having any in his possession.
He dismissed the notion he was deliberately withholding such materials and expressed concern about the government potentially mishandling or tampering with the documents that were taken from him.
Throughout his presidency and beyond, Trump has defended his actions regarding classified documents, asserting his right to declassify materials and maintain personal possession of certain items.
However, legal experts have highlighted that under the Presidential Records Act, materials generated or received during the President's tenure belong to the government.