New evidence in special counsel probe may undercut Trump’s claim documents he took were automatically declassified

Anderson Cooper 360

CNN

News

4.1 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 18 May 2023

⏱️ 44 minutes

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Summary

Sources tell CNN that the National Archives informed former President Trump that they’ll be handing over 16 records to special counsel Jack Smith that show Trump and his top advisers knew the correct declassification process while he was in the White House. Trump and his allies have insisted that while he was President, he didn’t have to follow a specific process to declassify documents. Carrie Cordero is a former counsel to the U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security. She tells Anderson Cooper what this could mean legally for the former President.

Plus, Andy Cohen, host and executive producer of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live,” joins AC360 to discuss his new book, “The Daddy Diaries” and the latest happenings from the world of Bravo.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Good evening.
0:01.0	We begin tonight with exclusive new CNN reporting that goes straight to the question,
0:05.3	did the former president willfully disregard what he knew to be clearly established procedures
0:09.8	involving classified documents?
0:11.6	In other words, did he know the right and wrong way of handling those items when he took
0:15.9	them from the White House tomorrow, Lago?
0:17.6	Tonight, CNN is learning that the National Archives is ready to hand over records to special
0:22.1	counsel Jack Smith showing that the former president and his top adviser certainly did know.
0:26.6	CNN Special Correspondent, JB Gengell, joins us.
0:29.1	Now just walk us through your reporting, Jamie.
0:32.0	Anderson, CNN has obtained this letter that was sent by the National Archives, as you said,
0:37.6	informing former president Trump that it is set to hand over the 16 presidential records
0:44.1	there from his administration, which show that Trump and his top advisers were aware of
0:51.2	the proper declassification process when he was president.
0:55.0	Our understanding is that the special counsel wants these records for the grand jury because
1:00.2	they may provide critical evidence that despite Trump's claims that he automatically
1:05.9	declassified all documents that he took, he was in fact aware that there was a correct
1:12.1	process to save card classified material and it didn't just happen with the wave of
1:18.0	a hand.
1:19.3	In the letter acting archivist Wal writes to Trump, quote,
1:24.1	the 16 records in question all reflect communications involving close presidential advisers, some
1:31.0	of them directed to you personally concerning whether, why and how you should declassify certain
	...

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