CNN Reports "Trump Admits Leaked Documents Are 'Classified'"... Transcript Released

Trump's Remarks Included in 2021 U.S. Department of Defense Documents

A transcript has emerged in which former U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledges that the documents kept at his residence were classified.

CNN exclusively reported on the 9th (local time) that it obtained the related transcript. The transcript contains Trump’s remarks regarding classified Department of Defense documents related to the Iran attack. In the transcript, he said, "As president, I could declassify, but now I cannot," indicating his awareness that the documents he possessed were classified.

CNN explained, "The transcript is significant in that it shows former President Trump knew the records he had at Mar-a-Lago were classified," adding, "He has publicly claimed that all documents he brought to his residence were declassified."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Analyzing the transcript, it appears that former President Trump discussed the related documents at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in 2021. Attendees reportedly included two individuals involved in the autobiography work of Mark Meadows, who was White House Chief of Staff during the Trump administration, and Margo Martin, a communications expert and former aide.

Earlier, CNN reported last week that federal prosecutors handling Trump’s classified information leak case had secured the transcript. The indictment released to local media by federal prosecutors on the same day also contains related content.

On the 8th (local time), the U.S. federal police led by Special Counsel Jack Smith criminally charged former President Trump with 37 counts of legal violations. This was due to Trump leaking boxes containing hundreds of classified documents to his Mar-a-Lago resort after his term ended in 2021. Special Counsel Smith announced plans to proceed with the trial swiftly.