Revolutions are only illegal if you lose.
And sometimes not even then.
Do we actually know this happened? I’ve heard speculation these files might have been held at Maralago in a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) during the Trump presidency and simply not transferred back when they should have been.
Sounds legit.
A distinction without a difference.
A very big difference, actually. We’re talking about two scenarios:
- Classified documents properly stored in a secure facility at Maralago remained in that secure facility when they were supposed to be transferred to another secure facility. Eventually somebody noticed this and initiated the transfer.
- Classified documents were packed up in boxes at the White House when Trump was moving out, and insecurely and illegally transferred to Maralago where they were stored in a random warehouse/office/bathroom.
The first is basic incompetence, but is merely an administrative oversight. It is not a security breach. This is a minor, minor problem in the big scheme of things.
The second is a serious national security matter and displays high levels of disregard for classified material. If true, it would be shockingly bad.
The stories have all been “classified documents found at Maralago” and without further details I think the first scenario is far more likely. I haven’t seen any stories with enough detail to confirm that the second is what actually happened.
This…
… is related to this…
Joshua James, who pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy, spent an awful lot of Jan 5 and 6 in the company of Roger Stone. And all that shit’s on tape.
Either Trump (or someone on his behalf) took classified documents, or had a responsibility to return classified documents and didn’t do it. In either case, Trump was in possession of classified material he shouldn’t have had. Failing to return them is not just some administrative oversight.
A distinction without a difference.
The first scenario assumes that Trump cared enough about his job to bring work “home” after hours. I ain’t buying that for a minute.
Cite for this?
Cite for speculation?
That’s why I asked the question, because I’m wondering if there was ever any decent reporting that clarified what actually happened.
OK, where did you hear this speculation? A reliable source? Your neighbor? Brother-in-law?
Because I’ve not heard anything like this until now. Heck, I’d never heard of a SCIF until you mentioned it.
I prefer not to share the source of this speculation. But consider the following:
This article tells us that Maralago has/had a SCIF:
This is a typical article about the 15 boxes:
National Archives: Trump Took Classified Items to Mar-A-Lago
But if you actually read the article, the headline is innacurate. They say the boxes were found at Maralago. And that they were stored at Maralago. There is no source saying that those documents were transferred there after Trump left office. Everybody (including the headline writer) just assumes they were. Far more likely, these things were securely stored from during Trump’s presidency and somebody was incompetent.
You very well may be correct. Thanks for the clarification.
And, yes, it’s more than speculation that somebody was incompetent.
Well, it’s also possible Trump said to a lackey, “Pack up all these documents and ship them to Maralago” knowing perfectly well and not caring that they were classified. Which I would call malice, not incompetence. But that’s also speculation given the known facts.
But I think in this case incompetence is most likely, and it may not even be Trump who was incompetent (at least not directly).
ETA: I just realized this whole conversation has been a pretty big hijack. Sorry, everybody.
Has the US recovered the documents?
Someone could ask Trump how and why the documents got there. However, Trump is nothing but a liar, so that won’t work. I guess baseless speculation is going to have to do. I submit that antifa planted them there. Or AOC. Someone opposed to facism.
I find it hard to believe that there would have been a SCIF at Mar-a-Loco. The place was a country club, basically, with all kind of rich low-lifes milling around. Security would have been very difficult. Trump was already known to have discussed classified materials at a table in the dining room, in the midst of other guests.
I don’t think there’s really any doubt it existed. News reports that mention it:
- Trump in Palm Beach: Mar-a-Lago’s SCIF, JFK’s bunker and keeping national security secure
- https://www.newschannel5.com/news/national/recent-trespassing-incidents-raise-questions-about-security-at-mar-a-lago
- Mar-a-Lago Florida: Everything we know about Trump’s new home | The Independent
How assiduously it was used is another matter, of course.
Isn’t it standard to build such a facility at whatever private house the president in office has? So there would have been one at GWB’s ranch or Reagan’s ranch or Obama’s house in Chicago. I think they also set up secure communications facilities and housing for the secret service.