Donald Trump trolled as former attorney Evan Corcoran's notes suggest defiance of document subpoena
WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Donald Trump faces renewed scrutiny following the revelation of his private concerns and alleged attempts to obstruct justice related to classified documents.
According to transcripts of audio notes from Trump's former attorney, Evan Corcoran, reviewed by ABC News, Trump worried that complying with a May 2022 subpoena to turn over potentially classified documents could lead to criminal charges.
Despite these concerns, Trump allegedly engaged in efforts to persuade his lawyers to lie and destroy documents to shield himself.
Notes reveal Donald Trump's private concerns about turning over classified documents
Prosecutors alleged that instead of complying with the subpoena, Trump chose to hide dozens of classified documents from his legal team. This led to a dramatic FBI raid at his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022, where agents seized 102 classified documents, including 17 top-secret ones.
The notes, initially reported by ABC News last year, have become central to the ongoing legal dispute regarding Trump’s management of classified information. They are detailed and damning, depicting a former president's efforts to tightly control sensitive documents.
Corcoran's description of Trump's hesitance to permit a comprehensive review of the boxes containing these documents highlights the friction between Trump and federal investigators. Prosecutors allege that Trump's actions were part of a broader scheme to influence his attorneys and obstruct justice.
At a recent hearing, Judge Aileen Cannon did not address the admissibility of Corcoran's notes. However, she acknowledged that discussions about the "presumptively privileged material" took place under seal during the morning session.
Two months before the FBI's Mar-a-Lago raid, Corcoran's notes captured Trump blaming his legal troubles on political adversaries. According to these notes, Trump repeatedly questioned the wisdom of turning over documents to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
"He raised a question as to if we gave them additional documents now, 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," Corcoran noted.
In a particularly telling moment, Trump asked his attorneys, "Well look isn't it better if there are no documents?"
Prosecutors have also alleged that Trump attempted to involve Corcoran in a scheme to deceive the FBI regarding the existence of classified documents.
"Trump tried to enlist his attorney in his criminal endeavor, tested his attorney's receptiveness, and then manipulated his attorney to achieve his criminal ends when the attorney did not accept his overtures," they wrote in a recent court filing.
Revelations about Donald Trump's hesitancy to turn over classified documents spark mockery online
The revelations about Trump's hesitancy to turn over classified documents sparked a wave of public outrage and mockery on social media.
One Facebook user said, "He should have just been a man and returned them. Men don’t run from their problems, they face up to them. This is not the signs of a leadership." [sic]
While another remarked, "If a regular citizen did that who actually had to go through a clearing process to even obtain access to any classified material did what felon trump did, they would have been locked up already, yet felon trump is still free!" [sic]
A user wrote, "SO MANY ISSUES …. SO MANY SITUATIONS ….. Trump’s Shenanigans should scream to Voters that he is NOT a good choice to lead our country."
Another user said, "He’s a thug. He should be in prison over this by now."
One user posted, "Nothing to see here, folks. Just Trump breaking the law....again." A user commented, "Can’t wait for this trial. It will be a slam dunk against Trump."
Another user mentioned, "Such an idiot. Just keeps digging that hole."
Lastly, a user stated, "Staggering when you think that all Trump had to do was return the documents. They gave him every opportunity but because he hates or simply can't follow rules, he's solely responsible for this mess."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
