Confidential and Secret Documents Described in Audio Clip, Trump Listened In

In an audio recording obtained by CNN and CBS News, former President Donald Trump can be heard discussing “highly confidential, secret” documents with a writer and aides in 2021. Trump describes the documents as secret information and expresses his concern over potential attacks. The audio recording was from a meeting held at Trump’s golf club in New Jersey and has been cited in the indictment of Trump and his aide, Walt Nauta, on multiple counts related to mishandling classified documents. While it is unclear if the documents mentioned in the recording were recovered by investigators, the audio confirms the accuracy of previous reports.

The recording reveals Trump referring to the documents as a plan of attack related to Iran. Trump mentions that he could have declassified the papers as president but can no longer do so. The existence of the tape was initially discovered in May, but the special counsel declined to comment. During the conversation, Trump is speaking with aides to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who was preparing a memoir. The indictment identifies the group involved as “a writer, a publisher, and two members of” Trump’s staff, none of whom had security clearance.

After the audio was published, Trump took to social media to claim that the tape was illegally leaked and spun by special counsel Jack Smith and the DOJ & FBI. He argued that the tape actually exonerated him and contained newspaper stories, magazine stories, and articles rather than classified documents. The trial in the case is scheduled for August 14, and the special counsel has requested a delay until December 11, citing the need for Trump’s attorneys to obtain security clearances needed to view the evidence.