Trump's habit of ripping up documents is the symptom of a bigger problem

[ificandream]

By Julian Zelizer/CNN

(CNN)In one form or another, most presidents have violated the Presidential Records Act, which requires the proper preservation of presidential records before they are transferred to the National Archives at the end of the administration.

But former President Donald Trump's actions go further than previous presidents, amounting to egregious violations of a law that came about in the aftermath of President Richard Nixon's traumatic Watergate scandal.

This is not the first time that Trump has proven to be extraordinarily effective at eluding mechanisms designed to promote transparency and accountability, and more effective guardrails need to be put in place.

In recent days, the nation has learned that Trump made a habit of tearing up documents while he was in office. There have also been several news reports of Trump administration staffers putting documents in burn bags to be destroyed. On Thursday, New York Times journalist and CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman said staff in the White House residence would periodically find the toilet clogged with "wads of clumped up wet printed paper." (Trump denied her reporting as "categorically untrue.&quot Additionally, there were at least 15 boxes of documents and other items that the former President took with him to Florida after his term came to a tumultuous close. Trump advisers, citing a chaotic end to the presidency, said the boxes were filled with mementos, gifts and correspondence.

Read more: [link:https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/09/opinions/trump-presidential-records-act-zelizer/index.html|

--------------------------

This is really no surprise. He's had a total disrespect from government from day one. This is serious enough to warrant action against him.

[NutmegYankee]

1. Lol "chaotic end to the presidency".

They knew from Nov 7th that it was over. They had two months to pack.

[secondwind]

2. They knew way before November 7th...

Their internals were AWFUL , month after month....

Which is why he started the rumor that the election would be "stolen".....

[Walleye]

3. "His term came to a tumultuous close". Like it happened all by itself

Should say after Trump was soundly beaten, he ended his presidency violently and chaotically in his rage at America for not re-electing him.

[PatSeg]

4. The entire presidency was "chaotic"

[Sanity Claws]

5. Take another look at the first sentence

In one form or another, most presidents have violated the Presidential Records Act

Where is the support for that? CNN pulled that out of its ass and is minimizing how outrageous Trump's behavior was.

[GoCubsGo]

6. They also fail to mention that it didn't even come into existence until after Nixon.

Most presidents haven't violated it, because most were not subjected to it. It's just more Whataboutisms. And, yes. They're minimizing it BIG TIME. Just like the rest of the MSM has been doing. It's horrifying, and it's infuriating.