Trump says he can declassify documents just "by thinking about it".

[DaisyDay]

Actually the president does have a right under the law, NARA and Trump were discussing which records Trump would keep.

My understanding was that the discussion was when Mr. Trump would return the property. He was not allowed to keep unclassified or declassified documents that belonged to the government.

It was GSA personnel that packed up many of the records, it was no secret.

Reportedly any document that was packed was done under close supervision by Mr. Trump. Only personnel with very high level access could handle the documents, not the normal grunts.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Well, if you'd like to, here's your chance to comment on the actual op.

Or you can ask @helmut to stay on topic. Just saying.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

That's not true anyway. I remember Cheney reclassifying documents from the Vietnam war. One day historians and researchers had access, the next they did not.

In Trump's case, the declassification was purely imaginary, so I don't see the problem with equally imaginary reclassification.

I guess we all can believe what we want to. But as president, Trump could declassify anything for any reason. So if Trump said he "gave all classified information," then anything not given was declassified. Not my rules, but those are the facts.

 

[Basil the Great]

Perhaps his mind is so powerful that he can actually declassify with the power of his mind?

 

[Valletta]

My understanding was that the discussion was when Mr. Trump would return the property. He was not allowed to keep unclassified or declassified documents that belonged to the government.


Reportedly any document that was packed was done under close supervision by Mr. Trump. Only personnel with very high level access could handle the documents, not the normal grunts.

The government is not allowed to keep documents owned by President Trump. As I have said, they have not returned his property. It was actually the GSA who was packing along with some White House staff. There were a lot of photos and a number of newspaper clippings. The government was in discussions with President Trump over some documents when they executed the raid. This is in contrast to Hillary Clinton, who after a subpoena saw that many records were destroyed. Hillary was known to have top secret records on an unsecured server.

 

[Bradskii]

I guess we all can believe what we want to. But as president, Trump could declassify anything for any reason. So if Trump said he "gave all classified information," then anything not given was declassified. Not my rules, but those are the facts.

I'm afraid the only possible fact that you noted there is that Trump might have actually said what you said he did. It doesn't make it true.

Now if it is found that he did actually give 'all classified information' then indeed, it would be a fact that anything not given was declassified.

I wouldn't bet your house on that being true.

 

[Bradskii]

The government is not allowed to keep documents owned by President Trump.

If they find out that anything they took that he owns shows that he broke any laws then it'll be held as evidence. If not, it'll be returned. Just like the pillow guy's phone.

And all this will happen in due course.

 

[DaisyDay]

I guess we all can believe what we want to. But as president, Trump could declassify anything for any reason. So if Trump said he "gave all classified information," then anything not given was declassified. Not my rules, but those are the facts.

He could declassify most things, but not everything. And in order documents to be deemed "declassified" he would have to had to do so. Coming back a year later and claiming he did it with thought magic just isn't plausible....to most people.

 

[Valletta]

He could declassify most things, but not everything. And in order documents to be deemed "declassified" he would have to had to do so. Coming back a year later and claiming he did it with thought magic just isn't plausible....to most people.

It doesn't really make a difference what people think, there is no reason for him not to declassify the documents, no motive for anything nefarious. It could very well be they thought he might have documents in his possession showing wrongdoing by the Justice Department or FBI. The fact they refused to let the Trump attorneys view what was going on is going to make it impossible for the FBI to prove they did not plant anything.

 

[DaisyDay]

The government is not allowed to keep documents owned by President Trump. As I have said, they have not returned his property. It was actually the GSA who was packing along with some White House staff.

What evidence do you have for this?

There were a lot of photos and a number of newspaper clippings.

The photos don't necessarily belong to him. He was a hoarding pack-rat by all accounts.

The government was in discussions with President Trump over some documents when they executed the raid.

No, the negotiations were over when Trump had his lawyers certify in writing that he had already returned everything sought and they discovered that was a lie.

This is in contrast to Hillary Clinton, who after a subpoena saw that many records were destroyed. Hillary was known to have top secret records on an unsecured server.

Hillary!

 

[DaisyDay]

It doesn't really make a difference what people think, there is no reason for him not to declassify the documents, no motive for anything nefarious.

Whether or not there was no reason, he still would have had to actually do it for it to have been done. And, as is so often repeated, the status of classification is not really an issue with his having documents that did not belong to him.

It could very well be they thought he might have documents in his possession showing wrongdoing by the Justice Department or FBI.

The warrant was pretty clear what they were after and why.

 

[Valletta]

Whether or not there was no reason, he still would have had to actually do it for it to have been done. And, as is so often repeated, the status of classification is not really an issue with his having documents that did not belong to him.

The warrant was pretty clear what they were after and why.

It was clear, but it was a general warrant in violation of the Constitution. As to the records act, it appears Trump has a right to documents.

 

[camille70]

If they find out that anything they took that he owns shows that he broke any laws then it'll be held as evidence. If not, it'll be returned. Just like the pillow guy's phone.

And all this will happen in due course.

Lindell was denied his phone and a special master today. In fact, when the ruling came down, Trump's case was quoted.

 

[camille70]

It doesn't really make a difference what people think, there is no reason for him not to declassify the documents, no motive for anything nefarious. It could very well be they thought he might have documents in his possession showing wrongdoing by the Justice Department or FBI. The fact they refused to let the Trump attorneys view what was going on is going to make it impossible for the FBI to prove they did not plant anything.

It doesn't matter if he declassified them or not. They still aren't HIS property to take with him when he leaves office. Also why would a private citizen need documents regarding nuclear secrets and human intelligence sources?

 

[Valletta]

It doesn't matter if he declassified them or not. They still aren't HIS property to take with him when he leaves office. Also why would a private citizen need documents regarding nuclear secrets and human intelligence sources?

Your information comes from discredited media sources.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

He could declassify most things, but not everything. And in order documents to be deemed "declassified" he would have to had to do so. Coming back a year later and claiming he did it with thought magic just isn't plausible....to most people.

Not true. As the head of the executive branch, he can declassify anything for whatever reason or for no reason at all. Hence the "all I have to do is think about it and it is declassified."

 

[Yttrium]

Not true. As the head of the executive branch, he can declassify anything for whatever reason or for no reason at all. Hence the "all I have to do is think about it and it is declassified."

That doesn't make rational sense. If there's no record of the declassification, no one besides Trump would know that the documents were declassified. So as far as everybody else was concerned, they'd still be classified.

A president could order classified documents to be declassified whenever he wants, and then the declassification process would happen, including recording the declassification and properly marking the documents.

 

[camille70]

Your information comes from discredited media sources.

The special master in the case, Judge Dearie, is giving Trump's defense the opportunity to prove the documents were declassified and also that the FBI planted evidence as has been publicly stated but not yet alleged in court. Per Judge Dearie, since the documents are marked classified, he is satisfied that they are so, unless Trump's lawyers provide evidence to the contrary. The onus is on Trump to prove they are not classified, not for the DOJ to prove they are. Regardless, since they have classified markings, their OWNERSHIP is not in question.

The 3 judges on the 11th circuit appeals court, two of which were appointed by Trump, granted the DOJ's request for possession of the 100 or so documents and Judge Cannon has since revised her original orders so that they align with the 11th circuit decision. If you have information that shows that what is transcribed in court records did not take place, I'd be more than happy to look at your source.

Edit: this has a link to the modified order by Judge Cannon.

Judge Overseeing Trump-Mar-a-Lago Case Trims Special Master Ruling Within Hours of 11th Circuit Order

“In any event, at least for these purposes, the declassification argument is a red herring because declassifying an official document would not change its content or render it personal,” the 11th Circuit’s opinion states. “So even if we assumed that Plaintiff did declassify some or all of the documents, that would not explain why he has a personal interest in them.”

 

[durangodawood]

The government is not allowed to keep documents owned by President Trump. As I have said, they have not returned his property. It was actually the GSA who was packing along with some White House staff. There were a lot of photos and a number of newspaper clippings. The government was in discussions with President Trump over some documents when they executed the raid. This is in contrast to Hillary Clinton, who after a subpoena saw that many records were destroyed. Hillary was known to have top secret records on an unsecured server.

For sure DoJ should return what he didn't steal once they've sorted through it.

 

[adrianmonk]

I can’t wait to see the mental gymnastics.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the gymnastics thus far ?