Archives asks Justice Department to investigate Trump's handling of White House records

[LetMyPeopleVote]

This will be fun to watch

Link to tweet

The National Archives and Records Administration has asked the Justice Department to examine Donald Trump’s handling of White House records, sparking discussions among federal law enforcement officials about whether they should investigate the former president for a possible crime, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The referral from the National Archives came amid recent revelations that officials recovered 15 boxes of materials from the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence that weren’t handed back in to the government as they should have been, and that Trump had turned over other White House records that had been torn up. Archives officials suspected Trump had possibly violated laws concerning the handling of government documents — including those that might be considered classified — and reached out to the Justice Department, the people familiar with the matter said.

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a politically sensitive request. The two people said the discussions about the matter remained preliminary, and it was not yet clear whether the Justice Department would investigate. The department also might be interested in merely reclaiming classified materials. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment......

Federal law makes it a crime to destroy government records, but it requires that a person know specifically they are breaking the law when they do so. That could be difficult to do for Trump, who advisers say tore up documents out of habit, leaving staff to retrieve and reassemble piles of torn paper. According to people familiar with the matter, Trump had been counseled by at least two chiefs of staff and the White House counsel to follow the law on preserving documents.

This will not be an easy case but TFG's actions should be investigated by the DOJ. If the DOJ does bring charges against TFG, I suspect the Presidential Records Act will be included along with a number of other crimes committed by TFG

[grumpyduck]

1. "Whether they should???????"

If they think they "shouldn't," then they're saying he's above the law.

Hey, DOJ, either shit or get off the pot! Do your fucking job!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. If they do not enforce the Presidential Records Act here, the act becomes meaningless

TFG has violated this act so many tiimes after being warned by two Chiefs of Staff and his counsel. I remember the Nixon years and followed the Watergate scandal closely. Congress adopted this act to protect Presidential Records and not prosecuting TFG means that this act is meaningless

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. There are some interesting penalties for violation of the Presidential Records Act

Link to tweet

[SamKnause]

4. "whether they should"

I guess it depends on how many laws you think that piece of shit should be allowed to break.

He truly could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it.

[eShirl]

5. they need to throw the book at this maralago mofo

[jalan48]

6. Shove this down the Republican's throats.

[MyOwnPeace]

7. WE knew the law - and we are 'just citizens'...............

This is the 'creature' that was given the top seat of our government - the 'leader' of our country - with advisors and cabinet members and a huge staff - and 'he' didn't know the law?

GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!

LOCK HIM UP!!!!
LOCK HIM UP!!!!
LOCK HIM UP!!!!
LOCK HIM UP!!!!
LOCK HIM UP!!!!
LOCK HIM UP!!!!
LOCK HIM UP!!!!
LOCK HIM UP!!!!

[Mr. Ected]

8. Fock him up!

And the ho's he road into town with.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

9. I'm sure DOJ will get right on that!

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. Trump said that Pelosi tearing up his State of the Union speech was unlawful

That indicates an awareness of the law. Clearly Pelosi tearing up her copy was a symbolic act of political protest. Even I am not so petty as to argue that Trump should be prosecuted if all that was involved was him tearing up and tossing in the can some draft of a speech that he was frustrated over, without any intention to obstruct. But if there is a clear pattern of his willfully keeping material away from the National Archives, well, ignorance of the law is not a defense. He clearly knew about the law.

[Kingofalldems]

11. Kick and rec for Trump's secret pals.