Donald Trump said this during the 2016 campaign, referring to the emails that his rival Hillary Clinton received or sent from a private server when she was Secretary of State. He promised that, if he won, he would apply “every power to protect classified information, no one is above the law”.
This paragraph, all at once low, is recalled by special prosecutor Jack Smith in his indictment of 37 charges for the documents allegedly illegally stolen from the White House and transported to his Florida mansion and other places to show off .
Like the one he took to his residence in Bedminster (New Jersey) to show in an interview with the author of a book about his government: map included, it was the plan to attack Iran.
Smith paints a devastating portrait of a former president who refuses to return documents affecting national security and allied countries, handled without caution, moved without care, reason for which Trump’s valet or personal assistant, the military Walt Nauta.
It stored information about defense capabilities and weapons, nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the US and friendly countries to an attack, the possible retaliation to such an attack or endangering international relations or the viability of intelligence human resources. intelligence
Among other papers, there are at least 21 that are top secret, nine top secret and one that is unlabeled but involves “military contingency planning.” Some refer to Five Eyes (five eyes), the name of the five main US allies.
Despite the insistence on return requests and court orders, prosecutor Smith notes that Trump’s lawyers revealed how they heard him considering “not returning anything,” “hiding” these documents, or, again citing his obsession with Hillary Clinton, or suggesting to “destroy” the evidence.
In total, he is charged with 31 charges related to crimes related to the retention of documents affecting the Espionage Act, and six more for conspiracy to obstruct the work of the government or justice, and forgery.
From the indictment emerges a description of Trump’s behavior that mixes the absurdity of the Marx brothers and the seriousness of absolutely irresponsible behavior. Only then is it understood that he accumulated papers in the Mar-a-Lago club ballroom (very busy), in a toilet, shower, office, in the host’s bedroom or in a warehouse.
Smith, who made a public appearance, remarked that “the Prosecutor’s Office wants a quick trial”. If it is delayed, the oral hearing may be in the middle of the campaign.
He recalled that the impeachment was voted on by a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida (Trump must appear on Tuesday before Miami Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by him when he was president) and invited to read his brief “to understand the ‘the scope and gravity of the charges for these crimes’.
Before spreading it, the Trumpist Republicans had already exonerated their leader. The Speaker of the Lower House, Kevin McCarthy, spoke of “a dark day” and that “everyone who believes in the law supports Trump”. Two rivals in the electoral race, former Vice President Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis, also spoke of disaster and corruption. Others said the former president was being treated differently (once again) than Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden. But there were voices on the right who acknowledged that they were impressed by the significance of the accusation and Trump’s outlandish behavior.
Smith recalled this in his public appearance: “We have laws and they apply to everyone.”
