CNN Releases Audio of Trump Allegedly Showing ‘Secret Information’

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CNN has released the audio recording that was included in the indictment of President Trump by federal prosecutors earlier this month. The recording reveals Trump showing “secret information” to a writer and a publisher during an interview that he was aware was being recorded. Trump can be heard saying that he did not declassify the information when he was President. CNN had previously reported on a transcript of the recording.

In the recording, Trump can be heard shuffling through papers and pointing to what he claims is a plan of attack on Iran that he says was given to him by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Mark Milley.

“Except it is like, highly confidential,” Trump said. “Secret. This is secret information. This was done by the military and given to me,” Trump said, later adding: “See, as president I could have declassified it. Now I can’t, you know, but this is still a secret.”

Although he did not deny the authenticity of the tape, Trump’s response to its release was to accuse Special Counsel Jack Smith of leaking it.

“The Deranged Special Prosecutor, Jack Smith, working in conjunction with the DOJ & FBI, illegally leaked and ‘spun’ a tape and transcript of me which is actually an exoneration, rather than what they would have you believe,” Trump said on social media. “This continuing Witch Hunt is another ELECTION INTERFERENCE Scam. They are cheaters and thugs!”

Last week, Trump told Bret Baier that despite his claim in a recording, he did not give classified documents to people who did not have security clearances.

“It wasn’t a document,” Trump said. “I had lots of paper. I had copies of newspaper articles. I had copies of magazines.”

Baier responded, “This is specifically a quote, you’re quoted on the recording saying the document was ‘secret,’ adding that you could have declassified it while you were president, but, quote, ‘Now I can’t, you know, this is still secret, highly confidential.’ And the indictment cites the recording and the testimony from people in the room saying you showed it to people there that day.”

Baier pointed out to Trump that he had said on tape that he couldn’t declassify, yet Trump was now claiming the opposite. Baier then asked why Trump had made the statements if he couldn’t act on them.

“When I said that, I couldn’t declassify it now because I wasn’t president, I never made any bones about that,” Trump answered. “When I’m not president, I can’t declassify.”

When Baier mentioned that Trump had made certain statements on tape, Trump denied it by stating “No, no. Bret, there was no document.”

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