Donald Trump Evidence Shows 'Criminal Intent'—Ex-FBI Assistant Director
Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago on June 5, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Audio notes by Trump's former lawyers allegedly show that he intended to hide classified documents in Mar-a-Lago.
Notes obtained by police from Donald Trump's lawyer clearly show that the former president intended to hide classified documents, a former FBI assistant director has said.
Lawyer Evan Corcoran made audio notes of his conversations with Trump before the FBI raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate looking for classified documents.
In one conversation, Trump allegedly said that he didn't want to hand over classified documents to authorities because it would open "new fronts" for his enemies to prosecute him.
The notes are currently the subject of a legal battle between Trump's lawyers and chief prosecutor Jack Smith.
Trump is facing 40 federal charges in Cannon's court over his alleged handling of sensitive materials seized from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, after leaving the White House in January 2021. He is also accused of obstructing efforts by federal authorities to retrieve them. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Newsweek contacted Trump's attorney for comment on Wednesday.
Aileen Cannon, the judge overseeing Trump's classified documents case in Florida, held a hearing on their admissibility on Tuesday.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi wrote, "This is what we call criminal intent. Trump asks Judge Cannon to toss it: Donald Trump expressed concern that returning classified docs after subpoena could result in criminal charges, sealed notes say."
He included a link to an ABC News article which states that, months before the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago, Trump feared prosecution if he handed over the classified documents.
After a May 2022 meeting, Corcoran wrote: "He raised a question as to, if we gave them additional documents now, would they, would they, the Department of Justice, come back and say well, why did you withhold them and try to use that as a basis for criminal liability or to make him look bad in the press."
That conversation came after prosecutors subpoenaed Trump to hand over all the presidential records he possessed.
Corcoran also recorded Trump asking pointedly: "Well look, isn't it better if there are no documents?" and expressing fears that handing over the classified documents was helping his enemies by "opening up new fronts against him," ABC reported.
Corcoran made several audio recordings to remember his conversations with Trump, including after a 90-minute meeting on May 23, 2022.
"He repeated many times that he felt he was really being targeted," according to Corcoran's notes.
Corcoran recalls Trump stating: "Look, you know, I have ten different actions against me. They are trying to get me. They're going after me. These people are ruthless. I've done all these great things for the country. I improved the economy, I lowered taxes, I did this, I did that, built the wall."
Corcoran warned him that he must comply with his legal obligations.
"Well what if we, what happens if we just don't respond at all or don't play ball with them?" Trump then allegedly asked.
"Well, there's a prospect that they could go to a judge and get a search warrant and that they could arrive here and get a search warrant," Corcoran responded.
Corcoran recalled that Trump repeatedly suggested it would be "better if we just told them we don't have anything here."
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