Donald Trump has openly declared his intention to testify in the federal lawsuit related to classified documents he reportedly took from the White House. In a revealing chat with conservative podcaster Hugh Hewitt, the former president confidently stated, “I’m allowed to do whatever I want … I’m allowed to do everything I did.”
Hewitt, pressing Trump on “The Hugh Hewitt Show,” inquired about the allegations concerning boxes containing over 300 classified documents that were discovered at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property. Trump’s response was steadfast: “I don’t talk about anything. Do you know why? Because I’m allowed to do whatever I want. I come under the Presidential Records Act.”
However, this assertion seems to misinterpret the true nature of the Presidential Records Act. According to the law, once a president’s term concludes, their records fall under the care of the U.S. Archivist.
There’s a provision for presidents to retain private documents unrelated to their duties, but numerous documents in Trump’s possession reportedly originated from official sources, including the C.I.A. and the Department of Defense. Trump has even publicly boasted about retaining war plans regarding Iran post-presidency.
Responding to Hewitt’s probing about his possible testimony, Trump compared the current case to previous controversies, saying, “That, I would do. That, I look forward to.” But he sidestepped Hewitt’s direct questions about the movement of the boxes, asserting, “I’m not answering that question for you, but I’m totally covered under the law.”
The trial concerning the classified documents is slated for May 2024. Whether Trump will genuinely take the stand remains to be seen.