Category: Unpresidential

California man who attacked police with taser on Jan. 6 sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison – CBS News

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Mixible Local Baltimore Bay Area Boston Chicago Colorado Detroit Los Angeles Miami Minnesota New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Sacramento Texas More Latest Video Photos Podcasts In Depth Local A Moment With… Innovators & Disruptors Newsletters Mobile RSS CBS Store Paramount+ Join Our Talent Community Davos 2023 Search Search Politics California man who attacked police with taser on Jan. 6 sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison By Keshia Butts, Robert Legare Updated on: June 21, 2023 / 2:52 PM EDT / CBS News Washington — A California man who prosecutors described as “one of the most violent defendants on January 6, 2021” was sentenced to 151 months — about 12 ½ years — in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to violent and obstructive conduct during the Capitol riot. File: Jan. 6, 2021, defendant Daniel Rodriguez Government exhibit Daniel “DJ” Rodriguez admitted as part of a plea agreement in February that he attacked former Washington, D.C. police officer Michael Fanone with a taser, causing him to lose consciousness, and that he worked to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. Rodriguez will also have to pay $96,000 to cover medical treatment for Fanone and $2,000 in restitution for the destruction of the Capitol on Jan. 6. Requesting a longer sentence of 14 years in prison, prosecutors said Rodriguez administered a group chat in which he and a co-defendant discussed battles and operations in Washington, D.C., before then-President Donald Trump announced his Jan. 6 rally and later planned their trip to the nation’s capital after Trump sent a tweet saying the day would “be wild.” Click here to view related media. click to expand “You showed up in D.C. spoiling for a fight,” Judge Amy Berman Jackson said to Rodriguez as she sentenced Rodriguez on Wednesday. And she told his legal team that Rodriguez “was a one-man army of hate.” Jackson also said that “people need to understand that you cannot do this or anything like this again.” Rodriguez’s attorneys said he was “remorseful” for his actions and even wrote a letter to Fanone in which he called the former police officer “a brave man.” “I am looking at serving a long prison sentence and no letter I write is getting me out of that. Sir, I only want to apologize from the heart,” Rodriguez wrote to Fanone. “I got carried away and have never been through something like that, that made me out of my mind. I wish I was smarter. I should have protected you because I have deep respect for law enforcement, and I have always stood up for police officers.” “I have not looked at Jan. 6 the same, my actions the same,” he told Jackson in court. He also made reference to his upbringing in California with a single mom and a high school education. But after sentencing Wednesday, Rodriguez left the court yelling, “Trump won.” Fanone, who was in the courtroom Wednesday, walked out of the courtroom during Rodriguez’s address, telling reporters in the hallway “I wasn’t gonna listen to this guy.” In response to Rodriguez’s “Trump won” comment, Fanone retorted that Rodriguez would have “13 years to think about it.” File: Daniel Rodriguez, in Trump hat, shown near police officer at Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Government exhibit “Rodriguez believed the 2020 Presidential election had been stolen, and those responsible should be in prison or dead,” attorneys at the Justice Department wrote in their pre-sentencing court filings, “And this mistaken belief gave him the authority, in his mind, to plan an assault on anyone who stood in his way.” He admitted in his plea agreement that on December 29, 2020, he posted in the group chat, “Congress can Hang. I’ll do it. Please let us get these people dear God,” court records revealed. Days later, Rodriguez and his codefendant, Edward Badalian, traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., where they attended Trump’s rally before marching to the grounds of the Capitol. Badalian was found guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding earlier this year. A federal judge dismissed one count against him. ”There will be blood. Welcome to the revolution,” Rodriguez messaged on the eve of the assault. Once at the Capitol, according to prosecutors, Rodriguez made his way to a tunnel at the building’s lower west terrace — where some of the most violence attacks against police occurred — and discharged a fire extinguisher at officers. Another alleged rioter then handed him a taser and, after minutes of intense fighting, investigators allege the mob pulled Fanone from the police line and into the crowd. “Rodriguez moved through the crowd, towards the captured officer. With his electroshock weapon in hand, Rodriguez reached his arm towards the side of Officer Fanone’s neck, landing the device on the side of Officer Fanone’s neck, below the left ear of Officer Fanone’s helmet,” prosecutors said in court filings, “Despite Officer Fanone’s efforts to get away, Rodriguez struck again, placing the electroshock weapon on the back of Officer Fanone’s neck.” The defendant later entered the Capitol and tried to use a wooden plank to break an office window from the inside. “OMG I did so much f***ing s***,” Rodriguez wrote after the breach, according to his plea agreement, “Tazzed the f*** out of the blue.” Prosecutors argued there was “ample” evidence that proved Rodriguez worked specifically to obstruct Congress’ work that day. “Rodriguez stands convicted of actually using violence against a police officer who was defending the seat of the government while the peaceful transfer of power was occurring,” they wrote. But his defense attorney laid blame for the riot and Rodriguez’s conduct on Trump, arguing in pre-sentencing filings that his client “believed the former President’s lies and manipulation, just as thousands of others did when they gathered at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, with the understanding they were there on behalf of the President of the United States to protect their government.” Assault On The U.S. Capitol More Ex-police chief who brought hatchet to Capitol on Jan. 6 gets 11 years Former Olympic swimmer sentenced to 3 years probation for role in Jan. 6 riot U.S. appeals court: Trump not immune from civil lawsuits over Jan. 6 attack House Republicans to release most of Jan. 6 footage Former “QAnon Shaman” apparently running for Congress More Read More First published on June 21, 2023 / 1:32 PM EDT © 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. More from CBS News Copyright ©2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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January 6th insurrectionist Daniel Rodriguez, who beat officer Michael Fanone, sentenced to 13 years in prison, screamed out “Trump won!” as police escorted him to prison.

[https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/california-man-daniel-rodriguez-jan-6-sentenced-12-years/]

David Weiss: Special counsel overseeing Hunter Biden criminal probe | CNN Politics

David Weiss, the Donald Trump-appointed US attorney who on Friday was named a special counsel leading the investigation into President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, has decades of experience as a federal prosecutor.

The appointment marks another dramatic development in the long-running probe into Hunter Biden, which began in 2018 and, at one time, concerned multiple financial and business activities in foreign countries dating to when Joe Biden was vice president.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said Friday that the move stemmed from Weiss’ request earlier this week to be elevated to special counsel – which now gives him more powers than a typical US attorney – and due to the “extraordinary circumstances” of this case and “public interest.”

“I am confident that Mr. Weiss will carry out his responsibility in an evenhanded and urgent manner and in accordance with the highest traditions of this department,” Garland said.

Weiss, the Delaware US attorney, met in April with Biden’s attorneys, who had requested a routine status update on the investigation, and it had appeared in June that the probe was near its end with a plea agreement. Hunter Biden agreed to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and struck a deal with federal prosecutors to resolve a felony gun charge.

However, in a court hearing last month, the deal nearly collapsed after a federal judge slammed the intertwined deals as “unprecedented” and asked the Justice Department and Biden’s lawyers to file additional legal briefs defending the constitutionality of the deal. In a court filing Friday, Weiss said the plea talks between the two parties broke down following the court hearing.

The appointment of a special counsel has long been called for by Republicans who have repeatedly criticized the Justice Department’s handling of the probe as being favorable to the president and his son. A senior Justice Department official told CNN that the White House and Biden’s legal team were not informed beforehand about the appointment.

However, House GOP members on Friday questioned whether Weiss could be trusted and reiterated calls for Weiss to testify before Congress.

“This action by Biden’s DOJ cannot be used to obstruct congressional investigations or whitewash the Biden family corruption,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said in a tweet. “If Weiss negotiated the sweetheart deal that couldn’t get approved, how can he be trusted as a Special Counsel?”

In 2018, the Senate confirmed Weiss to serve as US attorney for the District of Delaware. At the time of his nomination, he was serving as the acting US attorney for the district and was one of nine candidates whom Trump said shared his “vision for ‘Making America Safe Again.’”

The Philadelphia native is a member of the Delaware and Pennsylvania bars.

A Washington University in St. Louis and Widener University School of Law graduate, Weiss began his career in law in 1984 as a clerk to Justice Andrew D. Christie of the Delaware Supreme Court, according to his Justice Department biography.

Following his clerkship, Weiss prosecuted violent crimes and white-collar offenses as an assistant US attorney before joining firm Duane Morris, where he was a commercial litigation associate and eventually became a partner. He later served as chief operating officer and senior vice president at The Siegfried Group, a financial services firm, according to his biography.

He served as the first assistant US attorney starting in 2007.

Weiss’ investigation into Hunter Biden continued into the Biden administration, prompting Garland to stress during a March Senate committee hearing that he would not interfere with the investigation. Weiss, he reiterated at the time, had “full authority” to carry out the investigation and to bring in another jurisdiction if necessary.

Garland said Weiss was “not to be denied anything that he needs.”

This story has been updated with additional developments.

This dude was HAND PICKED by Donald Trump to put Hunter Biden away… he spent FIVE YEARS investigating Hunter Biden. This was the best they got because as we have seen dozens of time the right wing alternative reality slams into actual reality when dealing with the courts

[https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/20/politics/who-is-david-weiss-hunter-biden-investigation/index.html]

Trump All But Confesses to Mishandling Classified Docs on Fox News

Music Politics Shop TV & Movies Video & Photos (Sub)Culture RS Recommends Culture Council Rolling Stone MAGA Maniac Trump All But Confesses to Mishandling Classified Docs on Fox News The former president, facing charges of mishandling classified information, nearly confessed to the crime — while blaming his “golf shirts” by Miles Klee June 19, 2023 7:39PM EDT Getty Images Popular on Rolling Stone A week after his second post-presidential arrest, this one for his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House, Donald Trump turned to Fox News host Bret Baier on Monday to make the case for why he should lead the country again. But he ended up essentially confessing to the crime of which he’s accused: stealing and sharing top-secret government information. Before that, however, Baier pressed Trump to explain why he kept the boxes of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago and refused to comply with government requests to return them, as described in his new felony indictment. In between dismissing the case as “the document hoax” or accusing other presidents of illegally hoarding their own sensitive documents, Trump offered the bizarre explanation that he couldn’t give up the boxes to authorities because they also contained… his clothes. “Like every other president I take things out,” Trump said. “In my case, I took it out pretty much in a hurry. People packed it up and left. I had clothing in there, I had all sorts of personal items in there. Much, much stuff.” After a brief digression to call his former attorney general Bill Barr a “coward,” Trump reiterated, “I have got a lot of things in there. I will go through those boxes. I have to go through those boxes. I take out personal things.” Finally, he clarified what those items were: “These boxes were interspersed with all sorts of things: golf shirts, clothing, pants, shoes, there were many things,” he said. While not wanting Dark Brandon to seize your golf shirts may prove a compelling argument in court, another of Trump’s evasions seems less likely to hold water. Baier also brought up one of the most damning parts of the federal indictment, a recording from July 2021 in which Trump is heard showing off a document detailing an attack plan against Iran, revealing that it’s still officially secret and he no longer has the power to declassify it. Trump blustered for a moment about what he actually said, then pivoted to the claim that he wasn’t even holding a particular document — despite corroborating testimony from others in the room when it happened. No wonder this guy’s lawyers keep quitting on him. Editor’s picks The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time The 100 Best Albums of 2023 The 50 Worst Decisions in Movie History All 243 of Taylor Swift’s Songs, Ranked See more There’s a lot going on here and this is going to reviewed: Trump on the recording of him pic.twitter.com/JpohMqb2Li — Acyn (@Acyn) June 19, 2023 “Bret, there was no document,” Trump insisted. “That was a massive amount of papers and everything else, talking about Iran and other things. And it may have been held up or may not. That was not a document. I didn’t have any document per se. There was nothing to declassify, these were newspaper stories, magazine stories, and articles.” When Baier referred again to the facts of the recording laid out in the indictment, Trump said, presumably of the prosecutors: “These people are very dishonest people, they are thugs.” He also suggested they could be “stuffing” the boxes with incriminating material. Trump’s answer immediately made waves, with even some of his frequent defenders suggesting the former president may have just undermined himself. On Twitter, Pro-Trump legal scholar Jonathan Turley praised Baier’s interview — and included an ominous warning for Trump: “Bret Baier conducted an extraordinary interview with Donald Trump who discussed the criminal allegations in detail. Statements of this kind are generally admissible at trial…” Later on in the interview, Trump and Baier got into a debate on the results of the 2020 election, with the Fox anchor trying in vain to remind the former president that he lost while Trump rambled on about fake ballots. The rest of the conversation involved Trump bashing Biden’s international diplomacy, from Ukraine to the Middle East to China, and musing about how much better things were with him in office. Afterward, Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume said that Trump’s answers regarding matters of the law were “on the verge on incoherent,” and specifically mentioned the bizarre detail of not returning the boxes of classified documents because they hadn’t been “separated from his golf shirts or whatever he was saying.” Overall, Hume said, it sounded as if Trump was making the argument that the papers were his to do with as he liked, “which I don’t think is going to hold up in court.” Related Trump Could Tap Taylor Swift Conspiracy Theorist as Attorney General: Report Special Report with Bret Baier will air the second half of this interview on Tuesday evening. Will we learn more about the precious polos that Trump was shielding from government overreach? One can only hope. Trending Taylor Swift’s ‘Time’ Cover Is Breaking Far-Right Brains Inside Trump’s Plot to Corrupt the 2024 Election With ‘Garbage’ Data Texas Threatens Doctors After Judge Says Woman Can Get Emergency Abortion Multiple Women Accuse Popular Van Life Influencer of Unwanted Sexual Behavior Leave a Comment Share This © 2023 PMC. All rights reserved.

In Part 1 of a Fox News interview with Brett Baier, Donald Trump again claimed without evidence he won the 2020 election and, most importantly, tipped his hat to his legal defense… that the classified documents were not classified and the boxes were actually filled with his golf shirts… despite being on tape admitting he was holding classified documents in his hand, witnesses in attendance described the classified document Trump was holding, and saying he didn’t declassify the documents and knowing he couldn’t after he left office.

[https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/donald-trump-all-but-confesses-mishandling-classified-docs-fox-news-bret-baier-1234774379/amp/]

Trump attorney quits another case, cites ‘irreconcilable differences’ – POLITICO

Skip to Main Content POLITICO Politico Logo Congress Pro E&E News Search Search WASHINGTON & POLITICS Congress White House Elections Legal Magazine Foreign Affairs 2024 ELECTIONS News GOP Candidate Tracker STATE POLITICS & POLICY California Florida New Jersey New York GLOBAL POLITICS & POLICY Brussels Canada United Kingdom POLICY NEWS Agriculture Cannabis Cybersecurity Defense Education Energy & Environment Finance & Tax Health Care Immigration Labor Sustainability Technology Trade Transportation NEWSLETTERS Playbook Playbook PM West Wing Playbook POLITICO Nightly POLITICO Weekend The Recast Huddle All Newsletters COLUMNISTS Alex Burns John Harris Jonathan Martin Michael Schaffer Jack Shafer Rich Lowry SERIES & MORE Breaking News Alerts Podcasts Video The Fifty Women Rule Matt Wuerker Cartoons Cartoon Carousel POLITICO Live Upcoming Events Previous Events Follow us Twitter Instagram Facebook My Account Log In Log Out legal Trump attorney quits another case, cites ‘irreconcilable differences’ The departure of Jim Trusty from a defamation case that Trump filed is the latest shake-up in his legal team. Former President Donald Trump’s former attorney, Jim Trusty (right), withdrew from representing Trump due to “irreconcilable differences.” | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo By Kyle Cheney 06/16/2023 10:47 AM EDT Link Copied Former President Donald Trump’s attorney Jim Trusty, who withdrew from representing Trump in a pair of federal criminal probes last week, pulled out of yet another Trump legal matter Friday, citing “irreconcilable differences” with the former president. In a filing with the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida, Trusty indicated his intention to withdraw from Trump’s pending defamation lawsuit against CNN. The longshot lawsuit, which Trump filed last October, accuses the network of maligning him as a “‘racist,’ ‘Russian lackey,’ ‘insurrectionist,’ and ultimately ‘Hitler.’” “Mr. Trusty’s withdrawal is based upon irreconcilable differences between Counsel and Plaintiff and Counsel can no longer effectively and properly represent Plaintiff,” Trusty wrote in the filing, which he signed. The move follows Trusty’s decision, along with Trump attorney John Rowley, to resign from Trump’s legal team shortly after he was indicted by a Florida grand jury for stashing military secrets at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The two lawyers issued a joint statement that made no mention of “irreconcilable differences.” “Now that the case has been filed in Miami, this is a logical moment for us to step aside and let others carry the cases through to completion,” they wrote last week. “We have no plans to hold media appearances that address our withdrawals or any other confidential communications we’ve had with the President or his legal team.” Trusty did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. A Trump campaign spokesperson said: “The defamation lawsuit against CNN is entering a new phase, as more irrefutable facts are revealed. We thank Mr. Trusty for his work on this case and wish him all the best.” The filing, however, arrives at a sensitive moment in Trump’s legal battles. He’s seeking additional representation to defend him against the 37-count indictment for “willful retention” of national security records at his home, as well as allegedly obstructing efforts by the government to reclaim those records. Trump appeared at his arraignment Tuesday with attorneys Todd Blanche and Christopher Kise, but he’s expected to add an additional firm as the proceedings get underway. Filed under: CNN, Florida, Defamation, Donald Trump, Donald Trump 2024, Trump Indictment POLITICO Link Copied About Us Advertising Breaking News Alerts Careers Credit Card Payments Digital Edition FAQ Feedback Headlines Photos POWERJobs Press Print Subscriptions Request A Correction Write For Us RSS Site Map Terms of Service Privacy Policy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information and Opt Out of Targeted Advertising © 2023 POLITICO LLC

@[100044274887410:2048:Donald J. Trump] burns through lawyers like @[100044294416401:2048:Snoop Dogg] burns through blunts. It’s amazing he could still find law firms willing to take him on even with his track record of not paying.

[https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/16/trump-attorney-trusty-resigns-00102408]

Westchester DA Quietly Closes Trump Investigation Without Charges

Skip to Main Content Crossword Newsletters ALL Gift Guides Cheat Sheet Obsessed Politics Israel-Gaza Entertainment Media Opinion U.S. News Scouted CHEAT SHEET POLITICS Biden World Elections Opinion National Security Congress Pay Dirt The New Abnormal Trumpland MEDIA Confider Daytime Talk Late-Night Fox News U.S. NEWS Identities Crime Race LGBT Extremism Coronavirus WORLD Russia Europe China Middle East INNOVATION Science TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENT TV Movies Music Comedy Sports Sex TDB’s Obsessed Awards Shows The Last Laugh CULTURE Power Trip Fashion Books Royalist TECH Disinformation SCOUTED Sales Reviews New Kids on the Block Beauty Fitness Home Technology Travel COUPONS Vistaprint Coupons Ulta Coupons Office Depot Coupons Adidas Promo Codes Walmart Promo Codes H&M Coupons Spanx Promo Codes StubHub Promo Codes Products Newsletters Podcasts Crosswords Subscription FOLLOW US GOT A TIP? SEARCH HOMEPAGE Politics Westchester DA Quietly Closes Trump Investigation Without Charges MOVIN’ RIGHT ALONG The office, located just north of New York City, was looking into Trump’s forested estate, which has been accused of dodging taxes by faking paperwork. Jose Pagliery Political Investigations Reporter Published Jun. 15, 2023 6:52PM EDT Reuters/Amr Alfiky On Thursday, the tiniest and least consequential of all the criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump quietly came to a close. Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah’s small office just north of New York City was looking into Trump’s forested estate, which has been accused of dodging taxes by faking paperwork. Her effort was a little-examined parallel investigation of a much more intensive law enforcement operation now underway by the state’s attorney general, Letitia James. Last year, the AG sued the Trump family for bank and insurance fraud in a lawsuit that documented the way their business empire has inflated real estate values to score bank loans—and in the case of his wooded estate, maximize a tax write-off on donated land. Rocah’s office refused to answer any questions about the investigation in recent months, but issued a simple statement Thursday afternoon. “The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office conducted an investigation regarding certain properties owned by Donald J. Trump and/or the Trump Organization located in Westchester County, New York. Our investigation is now closed. We approached this investigation as we do all of our investigations, objectively, and independent of politics, party affiliation and personal or political beliefs,” announced public information officer Anna Young. But a bitter Trump demanded more than that, posting a statement in all caps on his Truth Social network. “This was the honorable thing to do in that I did nothing wrong, but where and when do I get my reputation back? When will the other fake cases against me be dropped? Election interference!!!” he wrote. Jose Pagliery Political Investigations Reporter @Jose_Pagliery jose.pagliery@thedailybeast.com Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here. READ THIS LIST Cheat Sheet Politics Entertainment Media World Innovation U.S. News Scouted Travel Subscription Crossword Newsletters Podcasts About Contact Tips Jobs Advertise Help Privacy Code of Ethics & Standards Diversity Terms & Conditions Copyright & Trademark Sitemap Coupons Coupons: Dick’s Sporting Goods Coupons HP Coupon Codes Chewy Promo Codes Nordstrom Rack Coupons NordVPN Coupons JCPenny Coupons Nordstrom Coupons Samsung Promo Coupons Home Depot Coupons Hotwire Promo Codes eBay Coupons Ashley Furniture Promo Codes © 2023 The Daily Beast Company LLC

On Thursday, the tiniest and least consequential of all the criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump quietly came to a close.

Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah’s small office just north of New York City was looking into Trump’s forested estate, which has been accused of dodging taxes by faking paperwork.

-Daily Beast

[https://www.thedailybeast.com/westchester-da-quietly-closes-trump-investigation-without-charges?ref=home&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_campaign=owned_social&utm_source=twitter_owned_tdb&via=twitter_page]

Trump rejected lawyers’ efforts to avoid classified documents indictment – The Washington Post

One of Donald Trump’s new attorneys proposed an idea in the fall of 2022: The former president’s team could try to arrange a settlement with the Justice Department.

The attorney, Christopher Kise, wanted to quietly approach Justice to see if he could negotiate a settlement that would preclude charges, hoping Attorney General Merrick Garland and the department would want an exit ramp to avoid prosecuting a former president. Kise would hopefully “take the temperature down,” he told others, by promising a professional approach and the return of all documents.

But Trump was not interested after listening to other lawyers who urged a more pugilistic approach, so Kise never approached prosecutors, three people briefed on the matter said. A special counsel was appointed months later.

Kise, a former solicitor general of Florida who was paid $3 million upfront to join Trump’s team last year, declined to comment.

That quiet entreaty last fall was one of many occasions when lawyers and advisers sought to get Trump to take a more cooperative stance in a bid to avoid what happened Friday. The Justice Department unsealed an indictment including more than three dozen criminal counts against Trump for allegedly keeping and hiding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida.

Trump, 77, now faces the most legally perilous moment of his life playing out in a federal court — charges that could bring decades in prison. He pleaded not guilty in Miami on Tuesday and vowed to fight the charges.

“President Trump has consistently been in full compliance with the Presidential Records Act, which is the only law that applies to Presidents and their records,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. “In the course of negotiations over the return of the documents, President Trump told the lead DOJ official, ‘anything you need from us, just let us know.’ Sadly, the weaponized DOJ rejected this offer of cooperation and conducted an unnecessary and unconstitutional raid on the President’s home in order to inflict maximum political damage on the leading presidential candidate.”

The PRA is not the only law applying to presidents and federal documents, as evidenced by the charges filed against Trump.

Since the National Archives first asked for the return of presidential documents in Trump’s possession in February 2021 and until a grand jury issued its indictment this month, Trump was repeatedly stubborn and eschewed opportunities to avoid criminal charges, according to people with knowledge of the case, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal internal details. They note that Trump was not charged for any documents he returned voluntarily.

Interviews with seven Trump advisers with knowledge of the probe indicate he misled his own advisers, telling them the boxes contained only newspaper clippings and clothes. He repeatedly refused to give the documents back, even when some of his longest-serving advisers warned of peril and some flew to Mar-a-Lago to beg him to return them.

When Trump returned 15 boxes early last year — leaving at least 64 more at Mar-a-Lago — he told his own advisers to put out statements to the National Archives and to the public that “everything” had been returned, The Washington Post has previously reported. But he quietly kept more than 100 classified documents.

Later, facing a grand jury subpoena, the indictment alleges the former president worked quietly with an aide to move boxes without telling his own lawyers, leading to a false attestation that every document had been returned.

“It was a totally unforced error,” said one person close to Trump who has been part of dozens of discussions about the documents. “We didn’t have to be here.”

Trump time and again rejected the advice from lawyers and advisers who urged him to cooperate and instead took the advice of Tom Fitton, the head of the conservative group Judicial Watch, and a range of others who told him he could legally keep the documents and should fight the Justice Department, advisers said. Trump would often cite Fitton to others, and Fitton told some of Trump’s lawyers that Trump could keep the documents, even as they disagreed, the advisers said.

In an interview Wednesday, Fitton said he dined with Trump on Monday night at his club, eating filet mignon with the former president one day before his first court appearance on the document charges. “I saw him last night; he’s in a good mood. He’s serious and ready to fight under the law.”

Fitton, who appeared before the grand jury and was questioned about his role in both the Mar-a-Lago documents case and the investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, acknowledged he gave the advice to Trump but declined to discuss the details of their conversations. He added that he read the indictment and did not believe it laid out illegal or obstructive conduct. Multiple witnesses said they were asked about Fitton in front of a grand jury and the role he played in Trump’s decisions.

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“I think what is lacking is the lawyers saying, ‘I took this to be obstruction,’” said Fitton. “Where is the conspiracy? I don’t understand any of it. I think this is a trap. They had no business asking for the records … and they’ve manufactured an obstruction charge out of that. There are core constitutional issues that the indictment avoids, and the obstruction charge seems weak to me.”

Several other Trump advisers blamed Fitton for convincing Trump that he could keep the documents and repeatedly mentioning the “Clinton socks case” — a reference to tapes Bill Clinton stored in his sock drawer of his secret interviews with historian Taylor Branch that served as the basis of Branch’s 2009 book documenting the Clinton presidency.

Judicial Watch lost a lawsuit in 2012 that demanded the audio recordings be designated as presidential records and that the National Archives take custody of the recordings. A court opinion issued at the time stated that there was no legal mechanism for the Archives to force Clinton to turn over the recordings.

For his part, Fitton said Trump’s lawyers “should have been more aggressive in fighting the subpoenas and fighting for Trump.”

Trump’s unwillingness to give the documents back did not surprise those who knew him well. Former White House chief of staff John F. Kelly said that he was particularly unlikely to heed requests from people or agencies he disliked.

“He’s incapable of admitting wrongdoing. He wanted to keep it, and he says, ‘You’re not going to tell me what to do. I’m the smartest guy in the room,’” Kelly said Tuesday.

Other advisers said the FBI and National Archives wanting the documents so badly made Trump less likely to give them back.

Trump’s chances to avoid charges began in early 2021, according to current and former advisers. After Gary Stern, counsel at the National Archives, asked Trump’s team for the return of documents, some of his lawyers and advisers began advising him to return them. National Archives officials were privately baffled at what they viewed as inexplicably recalcitrant behavior and kept asking for answers to no avail.

In the fall of 2021, Alex Cannon, then a Trump attorney, urged the former president to return documents to the National Archives, repeatedly telling him that he was required to give them back, according to people familiar with the matter.

After months of talking to Trump and his staff, Cannon — referred to in the indictment as a “Trump Representative” — told Trump that the National Archives was threatening to go to Congress or to the Department of Justice if he did not return the documents, the people said.

“It’s mine,” Trump said, explaining why he did not want to give the materials back, according to people with knowledge of his comments.

That threat prompted Trump to eventually begin looking through some of his boxes — or “my papers” as he called them, according to text messages listed in the indictment sent by former assistant Molly Michael. He eventually returned 15 boxes of materials to the National Archives, in January 2022.

That was followed by Trump directing his lawyer and his spokesman to put out statements saying he had returned “everything” — which they declined to do. That episode became of interest to federal prosecutors, according to four people with knowledge of the matter.

After the National Archives in February found reams of classified material and disorganized boxes in February 2022, they referred the matter to the Justice Department for a potential investigation. Archives officials did not believe everything had been properly returned, The Post has reported.

They were right.

Trump had kept at least 64 boxes of documents, according to the indictment. Trump never believed that his home would be searched and thought that he would be able to keep the documents, two advisers said.

After being initially reluctant to be drawn into what they viewed as a dispute between the Archives and Trump, the Justice Department opened an investigation in April 2022 and sent a subpoena asking for all classified documents in May.

Meanwhile, Trump grew angry with his lawyers and chose new lawyers, bringing in Evan Corcoran to handle the matter at the recommendation of adviser Boris Epshteyn.

Shortly after the subpoena arrived, the indictment says, Corcoran and another lawyer met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and told him he needed to comply. The indictment says Trump told the other lawyer not to return for the search of his property.

According to testimony Corcoran gave, he was encouraged by Trump to stonewall or not comply with the subpoena. Trump even suggested any “bad” documents could be plucked out of the file after Corcoran searched a storage room, according to the indictment.

“I really don’t want anybody looking through my boxes, I really don’t, I don’t want you looking through my boxes,” he said, according to Corcoran, as cited in the indictment. Trump also said, per the lawyer: “Well, what if we, what happens if we just don’t respond at all or don’t play ball with them?” and “Wouldn’t it be better if we just told them we don’t have anything there?”

But all the documents were not in the storage room, because the indictment alleges Trump and personal aide Walt Nauta moved some boxes without telling Corcoran. Nauta later helped pack some of the boxes to fly them from Mar-a-Lago to Bedminster, leading to a false attestation that everything had been returned, the indictment says.

A lawyer for Corcoran declined to comment on his testimony. A lawyer for Nauta, who is also charged in the indictment, declined to comment.

Kise, who originally urged a more cooperative approach, told others when he took the case that he believed that charges could be avoided. He began asking other advisers what happened during the subpoena process in an effort to understand why the Justice Department would take such an extraordinary step of searching the former president’s property.

Kise has largely been away from the documents case publicly in recent months as other lawyers pursued a more aggressive strategy, and Trump advisers say other lawyers badmouthed Kise to Trump.

In recent days, Kise was responsible for helping Trump find new lawyers in Florida — tapping his deep Rolodex in the state in a bid to find someone who’d be willing to work for Trump. In court on Tuesday in Miami, Kise was seated next to Trump as he was arraigned for 37 felony charges.

The latest: U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon overseeing Donald Trump’s classified documents case suggested that she might delay the planned scheduled, which includes a trial in May 2024.

The case: The criminal investigation looks into whether Trump took government secrets with him after he left the White House and obstructed a subsequent investigation. Trump has pleaded not guilty. Here’s what to know about the classified documents case.

The charges: Trump faces 40 separate charges in the documents case. Read the full text of the superseding indictment against Trump and our top takeaways from the indictment.

Can Trump still run for president? While it has never been attempted by a candidate from a major party before, Trump is allowed to run for president while under indictment in four separate cases — or even if he is convicted of a crime. Here’s how Trump’s indictment could impact the 2024 election.

@[100044274887410:2048:Donald J. Trump] rejected pleas from his D-level lawyers several times to quietly return the classified documents he stole, but instead opted to listen to the legal advice of not-a-lawyer @[2517459524978538:274:Tom Fitton] who runs the far-right group @[100064539227808:2048:Judicial Watch].

This is amazing because Judicial Watch was formed by Fitton to stop every probable policy of the @[100044322825129:2048:Barack Obama] administration, with occasional success, and transformed into a MAGA/QAnon/antivaxxer/anti-LGBTQ group. And now because of Tom Fitton, Donald Trump may spend the rest of his life in jail.

[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/06/14/trump-indictment-classified-documents-settlement/]

Trump pleads not guilty to federal indictment charges. Here are key moments from his arraignment.

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Here are key moments from his arraignment. get the free app By Caroline Linton, Kathryn Watson, Stefan Becket, Caitlin Yilek Updated on: June 14, 2023 / 12:12 AM EDT / CBS News Trump pleads not guilty at federal arraignment Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. This is the first time the Department of Justice has ever charged a former president with a crime. Trump was released on his own recognizance after the 45-minute proceeding. As a condition of his release, he is barred from talking to his aide Walt Nauta, who was charged with six counts in the 44-page indictment, about the case. Trump will not be required to relinquish his passport and there will be no limit on his domestic or international travel. He departed the courthouse just before 4 p.m. ET. He later flew to New Jersey, where he addressed supporters at his Bedminster resort on Tuesday night. Trump, who flew on his private plane to Miami on Monday, arrived at courthouse at around 1:50 p.m. ET and then was booked. Officials told reporters ahead of the arraignment that there would be no mugshot, and cameras were not allowed in the courthouse. Special counsel Jack Smith, whose office led the investigation that led to the Justice Department to charge Trump, arrived in Miami on Monday night. Follow updates below: Click here to view related media. click to expand New Updates 9:03 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump takes the stage in Bedminster Trump took the stage at his Bedminster, New Jersey, resort at 8:45 p.m. to “God Bless the USA” and chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump.” Supporters waved and caught video of the former president on their cell phones. Trump, making his first public remarks since being arraigned, again repeated many of the same false claims he has made over the past several days, alleging the indictment is a “political persecution like something straight out of a fascist or communist nation.” A defiant Trump also falsely claimed presidents have an “absolute right” to keep any and all documents they want. Trump makes first public remarks since federal arraignment By Kathryn Watson 8:22 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump touches down in New Jersey The former president has touched down in Newark, New Jersey, ahead of his speech at his club in Bedminster. Rows of chairs for supporters were set up at the club, and reporters were required to wait in the sun all afternoon for Trump’s arrival. By Kathryn Watson 7:30 PM / June 13, 2023 Why some citizens waited hours to see Trump arraigned Just seven members of the general public, along with a couple dozen reporters, were allowed into the federal courtroom during former President Donald Trump’s arraignment Tuesday. They waited for hours, unsure if they’d be able to witness the proceeding in-person. “I had the day free and the former president’s here getting arraigned. It’s unprecedented history,” Raj Abhyanker, a lawyer from California, told CBS News. Lazaro Ecenarro, a Trump supporter wearing a Make America Great Again hat, also said he was drawn to the courthouse by the significance of the moment. “This is historic,” Ecenarro said. “What we’re witnessing is historic, but at the same time it’s embarrassing because it makes us a laughingstock internationally.” Read more here. By Graham Kates 6:04 PM / June 13, 2023 How much influence could Judge Aileen Cannon have on the Trump case? U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, remains assigned to oversee his classified documents case. Last year, Cannon was involved in the legal case surrounding the FBI’s August 2022 search at Mar-a-Lago. In response to a lawsuit brought by Trump, Cannon agreed to appoint a special master — a neutral third party — to review the items seized by the FBI during its search. However, her ruling, which was widely criticized by legal experts, was later reversed by an appeals court. What is Rule 29? Judge Aileen Cannon’s power in Trump’s case Jessica Levinson, a CBS News legal contributor and professor at Loyola Law School, explains how much impact Cannon could have on the case. Levinson said Cannon will have “a lot of control over jury selection.” She also explained how Rule 29 could come into play. “She (Cannon) can actually, under the federal rules of criminal procedure, she can actually substitute her own judgment, like any other federal judge can, for the judgment of the jury,” Levinson said. “After the prosecution has completed its case — before the jury reaches a verdict — she can say, ‘There’s not enough evidence here.’ And if she makes that decision, it’s not appealable, it’s not reviewable. So that would be huge. I’m not saying it’s likely, but she has a lot of power.” 5:50 PM / June 13, 2023 Biden declines to comment on Trump arraignment Asked if he would comment on the arraignment of his predecessor, President Biden said “no.” The president has made a point not to comment on the case against Trump brought by his Justice Department. By Kathryn Watson 5:01 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump boards his plane to New Jersey The former president boarded his plane at 4:40 p.m., lightly pumping his fist for the cameras. He is heading to Bedminster, New Jersey, to address supporters Tuesday night. By Kathryn Watson 4:21 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump’s motorcade makes stop at popular restaurant in Little Havana Trump stops at cafe and greets supporters after federal arraignment Trump’s motorcade made a stop at Versailles Restaurant Cuban Cuisine, a well-known Cuban spot in Little Havana, a neighborhood where he has many supporters. The restaurant is a popular spot for candidates on the campaign trail. Faith leaders prayed for the former president, and supporters snapped photos with him. Trump briefly addressed reporters, saying he would be giving a “little speech” at Bedminster. Asked at the restaurant how the court went, Trump said he thinks his case is “going great.” “I think it’s a rigged deal — we have a rigged country here with the country, we have a country that’s corrupt,” Trump added. Supporters also sang “Happy Birthday” to the former president, who turns 77 on Wednesday. By Kathryn Watson 4:11 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump brought his own Sharpie to sign his personal surety bond The former president brought his trademark Sharpie to the court to sign his personal surety bond. The signature Trump drew with his Sharpie was large and bold enough to be visible to reporters five rows back. Former President Donald Trump’s signature on the personal surety bond in his federal case. Trump’s team left the room first, after the magistrate. Trump turned and looked at a few reporters before leaving, but did not appear to engage eye contact with special counsel Jack Smith. By contrast, Smith, standing in the first row behind prosecutor David Harbach, appeared focused on Trump as he stood up and slowly walked out of the courtroom. By Graham Kates 4:06 PM / June 13, 2023 Conditions of Trump’s release Trump will not be required to surrender his passport, there will be no limit on his international or domestic travel, and he will be held on a personal surety bond that has no dollar value. The former president will also not be allowed to talk with his co-defendant Walt Nauta, an aide to Trump and Navy veteran, about the facts of the case. They will be able to communicate otherwise. The Justice Department will submit a list of people who could be witnesses in the case, many of whom are former or current employees of Trump or allies. The judge said that Trump will not be able to speak with people on this list. Trump’s legal team had objections to this provision, but the judge decided the list would still be submitted, and any further disagreement would be settled by the court. By Robert Legare 4:02 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump’s motorcade leaves Miami courthouse Trump motorcade leaves courthouse after arraignment in Miami with supporters alongside Trump’s motorcade left the courthouse shortly before 4 p.m., with throngs of supporters cheering him on. With few barricades, people were able to run alongside the vehicles in the motorcade. Trump is expected to return to Bedminster, New Jersey, where he’s due to deliver remarks Tuesday evening. By Kathryn Watson 3:40 PM / June 13, 2023 Case still assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee The case is still assigned to Aileen Cannon, a federal district judge in South Florida appointed by former President Donald Trump. CBS News correspondent Scott MacFarlane, who was in the courtroom, said that it was announced that the case is still earmarked for Cannon, though it’s unclear whether she will remain the presiding judge. A previous ruling by Cannon granting Trump’s request for a special master and ordering the the Justice Department to temporarily stop using the seized materials for its investigation until completion of the special master’s review was criticized by a higher court. The decision was then reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in a unanimous ruling. That decision has led to calls for her to recuse herself in this case. By Caitlin Yilek 3:12 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump pleads not guilty to all charges Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 charges through his lawyer Todd Blanche. Trump sat expressionless with his arms folded during the hearing, reported CBS News correspondent Scott MacFarlane, who was inside the courtroom. Trump wore a navy suit and red tie. His co-defendant, Walt Nauta, sat at the same table as Trump and their attorneys. By Caitlin Yilek 3:20 PM / June 13, 2023 Former Trump attorney Tim Parlatore says just because indictment “looks damning” doesn’t mean it’s accurate or tells the full story Former Trump attorney Timothy Parlatore on indictment Former Trump attorney Tim Parlatore acknowledged that the indictment, if one assumes everything in it is true, doesn’t look great on its face. But Parlatore noted that as a criminal defense attorney, he often looks at indictments and the evidence doesn’t always match up the way the Justice Department says it does. “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell asked Parlatore if Trump’s former Attorney General Bill Barr’s assessment that it’s a “very, very damning indictment” is wrong. “Well, I think that the problem is, you look at the indictment and if you just read it by yourself and you assume that everything in it is true and you kind of ignore a lot of the conduct of the DOJ team in getting this way, it can look that way,” Parlatore said. “However, as a criminal defense attorney, one of the things that I do for a living is I take documents like this, I look at them a little more skeptically. I then go through the evidence to see if it actually matches up. And oftentimes, it doesn’t. DOJ oftentimes will bring indictments where by the time we get to discovery, we realize, these aren’t true, or they’re certainly not airtight. “Just because it looks damning” doesn’t mean it is, Parlatore said. Parlatore questioned the way the Justice Department has handled the case, in particular, the crime-fraud exception that was granted by a judge to pierce attorney-client privilege and allowed records of a conversation between Trump and Trump attorney Evan Corcoran to be presented to the grand jury. Corcoran argued Judge Beryl Howell “got it wrong.” Beyond his contention that Trump’s legal team wasn’t “able to fully litigate the motion,” in response to the special counsel’s motion to pierce the privilege, Parlatore cast Trump’s comments to Corcoran as questions it would be reasonable for a client to ask: what am I required to do? What are we allowed to do? He argued that one element that has not received much mention is Trump’s remark, Parlatore said, “where he’s specifically saying, ‘I read about when Hillary Clinton got a subpoena and David Kendall deleted 33,000 emails. Are we allowed to do the same thing because they didn’t get into trouble?” “You want clients to ask you those kinds of questions,” he argued, so they can understand what their rights are, and they should be able to ask those questions in an attorney-client privilege environment. Trump, according to notes included in the indictment, said, “I don’t want anybody looking, I don’t want anybody looking through my boxes, I really don’t, I don’t want you looking through my boxes.” He also said, “Well what if we, what happens if we just don’t respond at all or don’t play ball with them?” and “Well look, isn’t it better if there are no documents?” Parlatore said ultimately, he thinks that testimony will be suppressed because Howell “got it wrong.” By Kathryn Watson 2:59 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump enters courtroom as hearing begins Trump entered the courtroom a few minutes before 3 p.m. ET with his lawyers as the hearing began. Special counsel Jack Smith is seated in the front row. By Caitlin Yilek 2:44 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump booking process completed The former president has officially been booked, as of approximately 2:30 p.m. Trump was not expected to have a mugshot, although he was expected to be fingerprinted and undergo a DNA swab. After booking, the former president will be in the courtroom for the arraignment proceeding. By Kathryn Watson 2:26 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump spokesperson Alina Habba says former president is “defiant” Trump attorney Alina Habba addresses reporters in front of courthouse at arraignment Trump attorney and spokesperson Alina Habba said the former president is “defiant” as he undergoes processing in federal court. Habba, who is not representing Trump in this case, said “countless other individuals” including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden retained possession of classified documents, “yet have not been prosecuted.” She said the U.S. has a “two-tiered system of justice.” “The people in charge of this country do not love America,” Habba said. “They hate Donald Trump. What we are witnessing today is the blatant and unapologetic weaponization of the criminal justice system.” Habba did not speak to whether her client did the things of which he stands accused by the Justice Department. Habba compared the current situation to what happens in Cuba and Venezuela, something that elicits strong emotions for many in South Florida, which has a large immigrant population from those countries. “We are at a turning point in our nation’s history,” Habba said. “The targeting, prosecution of a leading political opponent is the type of thing you see in dictatorships like Cuba and Venezuela.” By Kathryn Watson 1:55 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump arrives at Miami courthouse Former US President Donald Trump arrives to the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Bloomberg Trump’s motorcade arrived at the federal courthouse in Miami at 1:50 p.m., greeted by supporters and opponents alike. The public won’t see much of Trump as he heads into the building. By Kathryn Watson 1:45 PM / June 13, 2023 Demonstrators gather outside the courthouse A small group of pro-Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters gathered Tuesday in front of Miami’s Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. courthouse, where The Associated Press reported they were squabbling. Demonstrators began gathering in the pre-dawn hours, according to CBS News Miami. Gregg Donovan, who came from California to support Trump, told CBS Miami that this is a “very sad day in America.” He called it “surreal” and “the worst day since President Kennedy and President Lincoln were shot.” “I thought America was supposed to be the leader of, you know, the example, and now what’s happening,” he said. People supporting and opposing former President Donald Trump make themselves heard outside of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse before the arraignment of Trump on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. / Getty Images Domenic Santana of Miami spoke out against Trump, saying, “America fell for the biggest con in history.” Santana called Trump “a graduate from the school of rats” and said he “should have gone to jail a long time ago.” Around 10:30 a.m., the crowd was pushed back from an area by the courthouse where the media was stationed due to a “security threat.” CBS Miami reporter Joe Gorchow said someone had attached what appeared to be a television to a light pole. It had a message on its front that used an expletive to describe the “communist media.” The TV was taken down. A police K9 alerted to the area and members of the bomb squad were brought in to check it out. Just before noon, the all clear was given and people were allowed to return to the area. 1:38 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump ready to tell his side of story as he’s arraigned in documents case, says attorney Trump goes into his arraignment Tuesday with an understanding of the serious nature of the federal criminal charges filed against him, says a spokesperson for Trump, but he and his legal team are taking issue with an indictment that they say is politically motivated, lacks context and tells only one side of the story. Trump attorney Alina Habba, now the spokesperson for the former president, told CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge in an interview before Trump’s arraignment that “of course” he’s aware of the seriousness of the charges, but argued the special counsel’s team of prosecutors is applying the “antiquated” Espionage Act “to political opponents in a way that has never been seen before.” Read more here. 2:29 PM / June 13, 2023 Vivek Ramaswamy calls on 2024 presidential candidates to commit to pardoning Trump Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, who has vowed to pardon former President Donald Trump if he’s convicted in the federal case, said he sent a letter to other candidates asking them to make the same commitment. His campaign said it mailed and emailed letters to 2024 presidential candidates, including Democrats Robert Kennedy and Marianne Williamson, asking them to either promote to pardon Trump or explain why they refuse. Ramaswamy appeared outside the Miami courthouse on Tuesday, saying the indictment “reeks of politicization.” Though he admitted he “would have made different judgments” than Trump. “But a bad judgment is not illegal behavior,” he said. But former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who announced his candidacy last week, called the indictment “very damning” in a town hall with CNN on Monday night. “It is a very tight, very evidence-laden indictment. The conduct in there is awful,” Christie said. Sen. Tim Scott acknowledged Monday it was a “serious case with serious allegations,” but added “you’re innocent until proven guilty. By Caitlin Yilek 1:35 PM / June 13, 2023 Trump departs Doral en route to courthouse The former president’s entourage has left his Doral resort, and is en route to the courthouse in Miami for the roughly 25-minute drive. By Kathryn Watson 1:30 PM / June 13, 2023 Feds concerned about security outside courthouse Multiple federal sources have told CBS News that they are concerned about the security outside the courthouse, which Miami police are both providing and supervising. Miami police are using plastic yellow tape to cordon off the area, not metal bike rack fences or even the heavy garbage trucks that are used in New York and elsewhere to prevent access for high-profile events. Federal sources are concerned if large crowds develop and got out of hand, the security would not hold. The U.S. Marshals, U.S. Secret Service, federal court officers and the US. Department of Homeland Security only have jurisdictional protection inside the courthouse and of the former president himself, not outside the courthouse. By Pat Milton 1:27 PM / June 13, 2023 Jill Biden says it’s “a little shocking” that Republicans still plan to vote for Trump after indictment First lady Jill Biden said it’s “a little shocking” that many Republicans still plan to vote for former President Donald Trump after he was indicted for his alleged mishandling of classified documents, according to the Associated Press. “They don’t care about the indictment. So that’s a little shocking, I think,” she said during a campaign fundraiser in New York City on Monday. President Biden has so far declined to comment on the federal indictment. A recent CBS News poll found that Trump is Republicans’ top choice to take on Mr. Biden in the 2024 election. By Caitlin Yilek 11:52 AM / June 13, 2023 No Trump mugshot, officials say Trump will be booked either just before or just after the arraignment, depending on when he arrives, officials told reporters. An official familiar with the planning told CBS News that Trump will not be “arrested,” but instead “processed” and in the loose custody of the U.S. Marshals. There will not be a mugshot taken, officials said. The U.S. Marshals Service has determined it will use a previously taken photo. They will administer a digital fingerprint scan and collect typical information: date of birth, Social Security and recent address history. A decision about his passport will be made by pretrial services. — Graham Kates, Andres Triay, Pat Milton 11:03 AM / June 13, 2023 Trump indictment timeline — What happens after arraignment? Trump’s arraignment and trial will take place in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida, where the indictment against the former president was filed last week. Most of the alleged crimes described in the indictment occurred in or around Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. The former president is expected to surrender to U.S. marshals at the federal courthouse in downtown Miami, where he’ll be booked and processed. Cameras have been prohibited in the courthouse, and there’s little chance that the public will catch a glimpse of him during his arraignment. A group of media organizations sought to allow some photos to be taken, but the judge rejected the request. The courthouse complex is connected by underground tunnels, making it easier for Trump to evade the public. At Trump’s arraignment, which isn’t expected to take long, Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman will set deadlines for federal prosecutors to turn over the evidence they’ve gathered to the defense. The court will then adjourn until a later date. Read more here. By Kathryn Watson 10:35 AM / June 13, 2023 What to expect inside and outside the courtroom Trump federal arraignment: What to expect inside and outside the courtroom Trump is scheduled to be arraigned in a Miami federal courtroom at 3 p.m. Tuesday. In the video above, CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa and CBS News legal analyst Rikki Klieman have more on how the day is expected to go for the former president. 10:12 AM / June 13, 2023 Christie says Trump “doesn’t give a damn about the American people” Chris Christie, who is battling former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential nomination, said at a CNN town hall on Monday night that Trump “doesn’t give a damn about the American people.” Christie, a former federal prosecutor, called Trump a “child” for not accepting the 2020 election results. He also called Trump a “three-time loser,” adding “he hasn’t won a damn thing since 2016.” Christie said he agreed with former Attorney General Bill Barr, who said on Fox News Sunday that Trump was “totally wrong that he had the right to have those documents.” When asked if President Biden “weaponized” the Justice Department against Trump, Christie said, “I don’t think so … The evidence looks pretty damning.” “We’re in a situation where there are people in my own party who are blaming DOJ. How about blame him? He did it,” Christie said. Christie called Trump’s conduct alleged in the indictment “vanity run amok, ego run amok.” — Grace Kazarian 9:31 AM / June 13, 2023 Miami police prepare for protesters outside courthouse Miami police said they were prepared for the possibility of thousands of protesters outside the federal courthouse. Opponents and supporters of former President Donald Trump demonstrate outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse in Miami, Florida, ahead of his scheduled arraignment on June 13, 2023. Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images The security preparations come as Trump is expected to be booked and processed after surrendering to U.S. Marshals — and after Trump urged his supporters to converge on Miami, through a social media post on his Truth Social platform. The former president, however, is not expected to walk through the front door or any crowd, but through a private entrance with the Secret Service at his side. Miami defense attorney Michelle Suskauer, a veteran in the field, believes the crowd is unlikely to catch even a glimpse of Trump when he arrives. Miami police prepare for protesters outside courthouse where Trump faces criminal charges Read more here. — Scott MacFarlane and Analisa Novak 7:53 AM / June 13, 2023 Trump’s legal team downplays Tuesday’s arraignment as simply “procedural” According to sources familiar with the planning, Trump is expected to be joined by lawyers Todd Blanche and Chris Kise. Meetings with local attorneys are continuing. One member of Trump’s legal team downplayed Tuesday’s arraignment as simply “procedural” when speaking about the upcoming court appearance. After meetings last night with Walt Nauta’s legal team and his own lawyers, Trump will keep meeting with Florida lawyers this week as he seeks to add more seasoned criminal defense lawyers to his legal team, they added. But for now, he’s leaning on Blanche, who he sees as a “killer,” and Kise, who knows Florida, to help him navigate this terrain. Other Trump lawyers such as Lindsey Halligan and Boris Boris Epshteyn remain involved and often central in the “fight this in the court of public opinion” area, but as this enters a new, more serious phase in federal court, sources tell me an expanding team is necessary for Trump to be on strong footing ahead of a protracted legal battle with the special counsel. — Robert Costa and Fin Gomez 7:43 AM / June 13, 2023 Trump’s advisers say his mood is “defiant and confident” over the charges Trump huddled with top campaign and legal advisers on Monday night at his Trump Doral hotel ahead of his court scheduled court appearance on Tuesday. Trump and his team had dinner in a private room at the hotel’s BLT Prime restaurant and next to the restaurant’s circular bar that had the Miami Heat vs. Denver Nuggets NBA Finals game playing on the TV. Trump’s advisers said his mood ahead of the court appearance can be described as “defiant and confident” over the charges he faces, and that he plans to “fight” the federal charges. His advisers said that Trump and his team have been buoyed by recent polls, including the new CBS poll, that showed in the aftermath of Thursday’s indictment news, Trump had a formidable double-digit lead over the rest of the GOP field, including Ron DeSantis. Earlier in the day, Trump was greeted with cheers and applause by hotel patrons and supporters when he first arrived into the lobby. A larger group of Trump supporters had congregated in a parking lot across the street from the opulent Doral property. Pro-Trump supporters, some wearing Trump t-shirts and hats, sat at the bar and some said they were also planning on attending the courthouse protests on Tuesday. One Florida Trump supporter at the Trump Doral bar, a New York transplant who was staying at the hotel in hopes of running into the former president, said she hoped that Trump would not be convicted and imprisoned because she thought there could be a “civil war” if it were to happen. By Fin Gómez 7:35 AM / June 13, 2023 Special counsel Jack Smith arrived in Miami Monday night Special counsel Jack Smith, whose office oversaw the investigation that led to the Justice Department to charge Trump, arrived in Miami on Monday night. By Jeff Pegues 7:23 AM / June 13, 2023 Security in Miami heightened ahead of arraignment Miami Police Chief Manny Morales said Monday that the city is ready for protests ranging anywhere between 5,000 to 50,000 people, and he encouraged any demonstrations to be peaceful. “I just want to assure the city we are ready, and we’re ready for it to be over and done,” Morales said. Security for Trump’s court appearance will involve multiple law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Marshals, who are responsible for securing the courthouse and federal grounds; the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for providing security for Trump as a former president; Miami police, who will be responsible for the streets around the federal courthouse and dealing with protesters; as well as Miami-Dade County police, who will provide added security around the courthouse, Trump National Doral, and the movement of Trump around the county; Florida Highway Patrol, to help with road closures; and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. By Caroline Linton 7:23 AM / June 13, 2023 How are Trump’s federal charges different from his New York indictment? The federal charges come just a couple of months after Trump was charged by a New York grand jury in a separate case. The Manhattan grand jury found Trump should be charged for allegedly illegally disguising payments to his “fixer” Michael Cohen, who paid adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to stay quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. On April 4, he spent about an hour inside a Manhattan courtroom with his legal team and became the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges. He pleaded not guilty. While both cases could involve prison time if Trump is convicted, legal analysts say the federal charges, involving sensitive government documents, appear to raise greater concerns. “For me the difference between the two cases is huge. It’s not just state versus federal, it’s also the severity of the crimes, it’s the amount of evidence that’s been amassed,” Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor and CBS News legal contributor, said. Read more here. By Caitlin O’Kane 7:22 AM / June 13, 2023 What are the charges against Trump? The indictment, filed by special counsel Jack Smith, lists 37 felony counts against Trump related to his handling of sensitive government documents, including some that allegedly involve “defense and weapons capabilities” and U.S. nuclear programs. A Trump aide, Walt Nauta, is also charged in the case. The 37 counts against Trump are: 31 counts of willful retention of classified documents 1 count of conspiracy to obstruct justice 1 count of withholding a document or record 1 count of corruptly concealing a document or record 1 count of concealing a document in a federal investigation 1 count of scheme to conceal 1 count of making false statements and representations. Nauta, Trump’s 40-year-old former valet, was charged with six counts: 1 count of conspiracy to obstruction justice 1 count of withholding a document or record 1 count of corruptly concealing a document or record 1 count of concealing a document in a federal investigation 1 count of scheme to conceal 1 count of making false statements or representations. The charges against Trump involve 31 records “relating to the national defense” discovered at Mar-a-Lago, according to the indictment, including White House intelligence briefings from 2018 through 2020 related to foreign countries, documents concerning military capabilities of foreign countries and the U.S., a June 2020 document involving a foreign country’s nuclear capabilities, an undated record about U.S. nuclear weaponry and a document from October 2018 concerning the communications with another country’s leader. Twenty-one of these documents had a “TOP SECRET” classification marking, while nine were marked “SECRET.” The final document bore no marking, according to a chart included in the indictment. By Caroline Linton 7:22 AM / June 13, 2023 Trump to hold fundraiser Tuesday night in New Jersey After the arraignment, Trump will head back to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he will give remarks and have a fundraiser. The Trump campaign has been churning out fundraising emails based off his indictment. At the Georgia GOP convention on Saturday, Trump said the indictment had driven his poll numbers up and had “driven us right through the sky” on fundraising. By Caroline Linton Trump Investigations More Trump gag order in 2020 election case largely upheld by appeals court Trump returns to court as New York fraud trial nears end Colorado Supreme Court weighs challenge to Trump’s ballot eligibility Special counsel previews trial roadmap in federal 2020 election case against Trump Trump seeks “urgent review” of gag order ruling in New York civil fraud case More In: Donald Trump Copyright ©2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy California Notice Do Not Sell My Personal Information Terms of Use About Advertise Closed Captioning CBS News Live on Paramount+ CBS News Store Site Map Contact Us Help facebook twitter instagram youtube f We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies. Accept Reject Update Consent

Happy Arraignment Day to all who celebrate.

[https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/live-updates/live-coverage-trump-arraignment-miami-court-federal-indictment/]

Rose Montoya exposes breasts during White House Pride party after meeting Biden

News Metro Page Six Sports NFL MLB NBA NHL College Football College Basketball Post Sports+ Sports Betting Business Personal Finance Opinion Entertainment TV Movies Music Celebrities Awards Theater Shopping Lifestyle Weird But True Health Fitness Health Care Medicine Men’s Health Women’s Health Mental Health Nutrition Sex & Relationships Viral Trends Human Interest Parenting Fashion & Beauty Food & Drink Travel Real Estate Media Tech Astrology Video Photos Visual Stories Sub Menu 1 Today’s Paper Covers Columnists Horoscopes Crosswords & Games Sports Odds Podcasts Careers Sub menu 2 Email Newsletters Official Store Home Delivery Tips Menu Facebook Twitter Flipboard WhatsApp Email trending now Skip to main content Megyn Kelly reveals what Chris Christie told her during heated… Melania Trump wants husband Donald to tap Tucker Carlson for VP:… Internet sleuths connecting Shohei Ohtani to one team News Trans model Rose Montoya goes topless during White House Pride party after meeting Biden By Richard Pollina and Jesse O’Neill Published June 13, 2023 Updated June 13, 2023, 3:51 p.m. ET More On: transgender Republican debate splits over transgender kid surgeries: ‘Mutilating these minors’ Parents claim daughter, 11, was forced to sleep in bed with transgender student on school trip Riley Gaines fires back at ‘misogynist’ ‘Squad’ Dem who wanted swimmer’s ‘transphobic’ remarks stricken from Title IX hearing record AOC claims ‘all’ underage women will face ‘genital examinations’ if biological men barred from female sports A transgender model and activist is under fire for popping off her top at the White House and cupping her breasts moments after shaking hands with President Biden — with critics blasting it as an “international embarrassment.” Advertisement Rose Montoya, 27, who was among the lengthy list of guests invited to celebrate Pride at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Saturday, was recorded pulling down her dress and cupping her exposed breasts in front of the Truman Balcony with the Pride flag hanging in the background. “No, this isn’t another hookers-n-blow photo from Hunter’s laptop, it was the Pride party on the White House lawn two days ago hosted by Joe,” radio host Dana Loesch tweeted. Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who was convicted of tax fraud and lying to White House officials and served four years in prison before being pardoned by former President Trump, slammed Biden aides for allowing the stunt to happen on White House grounds. Advertisement “OK, so who is running the f***ing White House and allowing this deviant garbage to go on right outside the oval office?” Kerik said. 7 Rose Montoya, a transgender woman, is seen with her top down, covering her breasts with her hands in front of the White House. Instagram/@therosemontoya “We know it’s not @JoeBiden- this dude has no idea where he is. So who is it? Who is the cause of this international embarrassment?” the city’s former top cop asked. Advertisement Montoya shared the racy footage Monday to Instagram along with a spliced-together video of the event, where the president and first lady Jill Biden delivered speeches to the hundreds of invitees in attendance. “Are we topless at the White House?” the person recording said in the video. 7 Before pulling down her top, the activist shook hands with Biden. Instagram/@therosemontoya 7 Biden called some of the members he met in the LGBTQ+ community some of the “bravest” citizens during his speech. Instagram/@therosemontoya Advertisement see also Who is Rose Montoya, the trans influencer who went topless at the White House? Also in the clips, the Idaho-born model was seen getting the opportunity to meet the president and first lady. “It is an honor. Trans rights are human rights,” Montoya said to Biden as they shook hands. Advertisement Footage also showed the speech delivered by the 80-year-old president, who said the members of the LGBTQ+ community were “some of the bravest and most inspiring people” he has “ever known.” Following uproar from conservatives, who Montoya says are trying to use her clip as an example that the transgender community “grooms” young people, the model made a response video, pointing out that being topless is not against the law in Washington, DC. 7 First lady Jill Biden also briefly met with the transgender model. Instagram/@therosemontoya 7 Montoya made a response video to call out the critics trying to label her a “groomer” for pulling down her top at the White House. Instagram/@therosemontoya Advertisement 7 Biden is seen mistakenly taking a video of Montoya and others which was meant to be a photo. Instagram/@therosemontoya “Going topless in DC is legal, and I fully support the movement to free the nipples,” she said. “Why is my chest now deemed inappropriate or illegal when I show it off? However, before coming out as trans, it was not.” “All you’re doing is affirming I’m a woman,” she clapped back at the haters. Advertisement Montoya — who began her transition in 2015 — says she purposely covered her nipples to “play it safe” with “zero intention of trying to be vulgar” and that she was “simply living in joy. Living my truth and existing in my body.” “Happy Pride. Free the nipple,” she says as she concludes her response video. 7 A Pride flag hangs in between two American flags from the balcony of the White House during a Pride celebration on the South Lawn, hosted by President Biden, on June 10, 2023. REUTERS Advertisement To be considered public nudity, one must expose the female breast below the top of the nipple without full “opaque coverage,” according to the law on obscenity in the District of Columbia. Montoya wasn’t the only one to face criticism over the Pride celebration. Prominent military veterans have accused the Biden administration of diminishing the American flag by placing a Pride banner at the center of a display. Advertisement “No flag should be flown at equal level to the American flag,” said Army veteran and US Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), who called the placement of the flag “shameful.” “The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of states or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs,” according to the U.S. flag code. “You would think the White House knows this,” Chad Robichaux, a Marine veteran, told The Post in a statement. “They do, they just don’t care.” Advertisement The stunt ultimately got Montoya rebuked by and banned from the White House. “This behavior is inappropriate and disrespectful for any event at the White House,” a White House spokesperson told The Post. “It is not reflective of the event we hosted to celebrate LGBTQI+ families or the other hundreds of guests who were in attendance. Individuals in the video will not be invited to future events.” Share this: Filed under jill biden , joe biden , pride , transgender , washington dc , white house , 6/13/23 trending now Megyn Kelly reveals what Chris Christie told her during heated off-air confrontation at GOP debate: ‘He was pissed’ ‘One down’: UPenn reportedly asking president to step down Friday over outrage at antisemitism testimony Nine-year-old sends dad to prison after catching six-minute bloody beating of mom on video Internet sleuths connecting Shohei Ohtani to one team Melania Trump wants husband Donald to tap Tucker Carlson for VP: report Georgia high school baseball star brain-dead after teammate accidentally hits him with bat during practice https://nypost.com/2023/06/13/rose-montoya-exposes-breasts-during-white-house-pride-party-after-meeting-biden/?utm_source=url_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons Copy the URL to share Post Sports+ Email Newsletters Mobile Apps Contact Us Tips Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Email YouTube © 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use | Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information/Opt-Out Exit mobile version

CONSERVATIVES: I just watched @[100044171722408:2048:Matt Walsh]’s documentary “What Is A Woman” and now I will argue until I am red in the face that’s a dude!!!

ALSO CONSERVATIVES: Oh no that woman just showed her breasts!!!!

[https://nypost.com/2023/06/13/rose-montoya-exposes-breasts-during-white-house-pride-party-after-meeting-biden/amp/]

Trump lawyers quit classified documents case

Two lawyers who represented Donald Trump in the months before the former president was indicted on federal charges over his handling of classified documents quit working for him Friday morning.

The attorneys, Jim Trusty and John Rowley, did not explain in detail why they had resigned, other than to say in a joint statement that “this is a logical moment” to do so given his indictment Thursday in U.S. District Court in Miami.

Trusty and Rowley also said they will no longer represent Trump in a pending federal criminal probe into his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

Trusty had made multiple appearances on television news shows Thursday evening and Friday morning to discuss the indictment of Trump in his capacity as his lawyer.

Follow our live coverage of Donald Trump’s indictment in the classified documents case.

Trump first announced the two lawyers were leaving his cases in a post on his Truth Social platform.

He said he would now be represented by Todd Blanche, a New York lawyer who is representing him in another criminal case in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Trump is charged there in a state grand jury indictment with falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election.

He has pleaded not guilty in that case.

“We will be announcing additional lawyers in the coming days,” wrote Trump, who is due to appear Tuesday in Miami court on the indictment charging him with several crimes.

Blanche did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

Trump is charged over his retention of hundreds of classified government documents at his residence at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, after he left the White House, as well as with obstruction for his failure to return those records in the face of demands from U.S. officials.

In a joint statement, Trusty and Rowley wrote: “This morning we tendered our resignations as counsel to President Trump, and we will no longer represent him on either the indicted case or the January 6 investigation.”

“It has been an honor to have spent the last year defending him, and we know he will be vindicated in his battle against the Biden Administration’s partisan weaponization of the American justice system,” the attorneys said.

“Now that the case has been filed in Miami, this is a logical moment for us to step aside and let others carry the cases through to completion,” they wrote. “We have no plans to hold media appearances that address our withdrawals or any other confidential communications we’ve had with the President or his legal team.

Donald Trump needs to find new lawyers after his quit after being indicted.

[https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/06/09/trump-lawyers-quit-classified-documents-case.html]

Exclusive: Donald Trump admits on tape he didn’t declassify ‘secret information’ | CNN Politics

Former President Donald Trump acknowledged on tape in a 2021 meeting that he had retained “secret” military information that he had not declassified, according to a transcript of the audio recording obtained by CNN.

“As president, I could have declassified, but now I can’t,” Trump says, according to the transcript.

CNN obtained the transcript of a portion of the meeting where Trump is discussing a classified Pentagon document about attacking Iran. In the audio recording, which CNN previously reported was obtained by prosecutors, Trump says that he did not declassify the document he’s referencing, according to the transcript.

Trump was indicted Thursday on seven counts in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the mishandling of classified documents. Details from the indictment have not been made public, so it unknown whether any of the seven counts refer to the recorded 2021 meeting. Still, the tape is significant because it shows that Trump had an understanding the records he had with him at Mar-a-Lago after he left the White House remained classified.

Publicly, Trump has claimed that all the documents he brought with him to his Florida residence are declassified, while he’s railed against the special counsel’s investigation as a political witch hunt attempting to interfere with his 2024 presidential campaign.

CNN first reported last week that prosecutors had obtained the audio recording of Trump’s 2021 meeting at his Bedminster, New Jersey, resort, with two people working on the autobiography of Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows as well as aides employed by the former president, including communications specialist Margo Martin.

The transcript of the audio recording suggests that Trump is showing the document he’s discussing to those in the room. Several sources have told CNN the recording captures the sound of paper rustling, as if Trump was waving the document around, though is not clear if it was the actual Iran document.

“Secret. This is secret information. Look, look at this,” Trump says at one point, according to the transcript. “This was done by the military and given to me.”

Trump was complaining in the meeting about Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley. The meeting occurred shortly after The New Yorker published a story by Susan Glasser detailing how, in the final days of Trump’s presidency, Milley instructed the Joint Chiefs to ensure Trump issued no illegal orders and that he be informed if there was any concern.

“Well, with Milley – uh, let me see that, I’ll show you an example. He said that I wanted to attack Iran. Isn’t that amazing? I have a big pile of papers, this thing just came up. Look. This was him,” Trump says, according to the transcript. “They presented me this – this is off the record, but – they presented me this. This was him. This was the Defense Department and him. We looked at some. This was him. This wasn’t done by me, this was him.”

Trump continues: “All sorts of stuff – pages long, look. Wait a minute, let’s see here. I just found, isn’t that amazing? This totally wins my case, you know. Except it is like, highly confidential. Secret. This is secret information. Look, look at this.”

“Secret” and “confidential” are two levels of classification for sensitive government documents.

In March, prosecutors subpoenaed Trump for the document referenced in the 2021 recording. Trump’s lawyers provided some documents related to Iran and Milley in response to the subpoena, but they could not find the document itself.

Federal prosecutors have been investigating Trump over the mishandling of classified documents taken to Mar-a-Lago and obstruction of the investigation. Trump’s lawyer said the former president was given a summons by the Justice Department to appear in court Tuesday in southern Florida.

The Mar-a-Lago investigation is one of two being led by Smith, who was appointed special counsel in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Smith’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election is still ongoing.

CNN obtained the transcript of Donald Trump admitting to having classified documents. Here is the transcript:

“Secret. This is secret information. Look, look at this,” Trump says at one point, according to the transcript. “This was done by the military and given to me.”

Trump was complaining in the meeting about Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley. The meeting occurred shortly after The New Yorker published a story by Susan Glasser detailing how, in the final days of Trump’s presidency, Milley instructed the Joint Chiefs to ensure Trump issued no illegal orders and that he be informed if there was any concern.

“Well, with Milley – uh, let me see that, I’ll show you an example. He said that I wanted to attack Iran. Isn’t that amazing? I have a big pile of papers, this thing just came up. Look. This was him,” Trump says, according to the transcript. “They presented me this – this is off the record, but – they presented me this. This was him. This was the Defense Department and him. We looked at some. This was him. This wasn’t done by me, this was him.”

Trump continues: “All sorts of stuff – pages long, look. Wait a minute, let’s see here. I just found, isn’t that amazing? This totally wins my case, you know. Except it is like, highly confidential. Secret. This is secret information. Look, look at this.”

[https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/09/politics/trump-tape-didnt-declassify-secret-information/index.html]

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