Two days ago, Donald Trump claimed that he could declassify documents in his mind. Chris Walker writes:
In an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump claimed that he could have declassified government documents he removed from the White House upon leaving office simply by using his mind.
“There doesn’t have to be a process, as I understand it,” Trump said. “You’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying it’s declassified, even by thinking about it.”
It's Trump's latest defense in the ongoing FBI Mar-a-Logo saga:
Trump’s comments contradict his previous claims about the transfer of classified documents to his home, however. Last week, for example, the former president said he had given “verbal orders” to declassify the government materials — although experts have said that this argument doesn’t hold up in court, either.
Trump’s latest defense — that he can just “think” the documents declassified, and they will be — was panned by many social media users.
“If all documents can either be classified or unclassified by the president in his head, but no one knows it until he says it, are all government documents both classified and unclassified?” a tweet from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said. “Did we just invent Schrödinger’s Document?”
Others noted that Trump’s comments undercut his previous defenses of his removal of classified documents.
“The focus is understandably on Trump’s claim of mental declassifications from his Hannity interview,” tweeted New York Times senior political reporter Maggie Haberman. “But he appeared to indicate he intentionally sent the documents to Mar-a-Lago, which cuts against the ‘it was an accident’ claims.”
Trump keeps trying out new defenses. But, with each defense, it becomes increasingly clear that he doesn't belong in the White House. He doesn't belong at Mar-a-Logo. He belongs at the Funny Farm.
Image: Truthout
8 comments:
Trump's declassification fantasies ran into a buzz saw at the court of appeal. Mental declassification, even verbal declassification, doesn't leave enough evidence that it happened, and without evidence the argument doesn't fly.
But the appeal court went further, calling the classification of documents a red herring. The real problem is Trump's theft of government property. Whether classified or not, there's no question the documents are government property and Trump had no legitimate reason for having them. I'm not sure why we're still waiting for Garland to indict Trump.
Cap
"he doesn't belong in the White House. He doesn't belong at Mar-a-Logo. He belongs at the Funny Farm"
Oh Donald, "Beelzebub has a devil set aside for thee"
Thanks to the recent (and scandalous) rendition of this ditty by our PM, this was top of mind.
Garland is waiting until after the midterm elections, Cap. He wants to avoid another Hilary Clinton emails debacle.
His own Dark Guardian Angel, PoV.
Donald Trump isn't running in the midterms, Owen. I don't see why indicting him should wait.
Cap
I understand, Cap. But his acolytes -- election deniers -- are. Garland will not give them an obvious target.
He's on the rally/campaign circuit again. It would be great if only someone could slip a bit of acid in his Big Mac before he went on stage.
He's been on a trip for quite awhile, Mound. And it's increasingly apparent that his brain is turning to mush.
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