According to reports from various media outlets, Justice Department prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of former President Donald Trump discussing a classified Pentagon document related to a possible attack on Iran.

The recording, made after Trump left office, allegedly captures him expressing a desire to retain the document and share its information with others.

However, he acknowledged the limitations surrounding his authority to declassify records after leaving the presidency, the Associated Press reported.

These remarks, recorded in July 2021 at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, appear to contradict Trump’s repeated assertions that he had declassified the documents he took from the White House to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, after his presidency ended.

The existence of this recording could potentially serve as significant evidence for prosecutors investigating whether Trump was aware of the limitations regarding his possession of classified documents.

The audio recording has been handed over to special counsel Jack Smith, who leads the team of prosecutors responsible for examining potential mishandling of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago.

Their investigation also focuses on whether Trump or any others may have engaged in criminal obstruction of the probe. Notably, no criminal charges have been filed thus far.

This ongoing investigation appears to be in its final stages, as prosecutors have conducted interviews with a wide range of witnesses before the grand jury.

Written by staff