On Monday night, CNN released a two-minute audio clip that is being cited in the indictment of former President Donald Trump by the Biden Justice Department. Trump, responding on Truth Social, criticized Special Counsel Jack Smith as “deranged” and accused him, along with the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, of illegally leaking and distorting the tape.
According to the indictment, the conversations in question allegedly took place in 2021 between Trump and two unidentified individuals believed to be researchers working with Mark Meadows, his former Chief of Staff, on his autobiography. These individuals were not authorized to access the documents that Trump is accused of unlawfully retaining.
In the audio clip, a voice purportedly belonging to Trump can be heard discussing a pile of papers that were presented to him. The voice claims that the papers show a defense department official stating that Trump wanted to attack Iran. Trump expresses surprise at the accusation and mentions that the documents were confidential and secret, making it impossible for him to declassify them.
During the conversation, someone in the room jokingly mentions Hillary Clinton’s emails, to which Trump allegedly responds by referencing Anthony Weiner, the former congressman involved in a separate scandal. The audio also captures a discussion about the challenges of declassifying the documents due to Trump no longer being in office.
The indictment against Trump includes charges of willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding and concealing documents, and making false statements. Trump argues that the leaked audio is actually exonerating rather than incriminating.
From a conservative perspective, Trump’s response on Truth Social reflects his belief that the Justice Department and its Special Counsel are engaged in a politically motivated witch hunt. He accuses them of illegally leaking and spinning the tape to interfere with elections and undermine his reputation. Conservatives argue that this is yet another example of biased investigations and attempts to discredit a former president who achieved significant policy successes during his tenure. They view the charges as exaggerated and question the intentions behind the leak and subsequent indictment.
