Trump held on to the documents because he anticipated an opportunity to commit treason

[babylonsister]

Trump held on to the documents because he anticipated an opportunity to commit treason
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 1:21:58p EDT
By Dartagnan

snip//

But all of this still begs the question of “why?” The answer to that question hasn’t been discussed much. The media have skated around that question, because the most likely answer makes some people in this country very uncomfortable. The most logical reason Trump went to such lengths to keep these classified documents—in the face of potentially dire criminal liability—is because he expected an opportunity to share the information they contained for his own personal gain. And the fact that this would very likely implicate outright treason on his part? He had to be expecting to commit that as well.

As astutely observed by Fintan O’Toole, writing for the New York Review of Books:

Secrets are a kind of currency. They can be hoarded, but if kept for too long they lose their value. Like all currencies, they must, sooner or later, be used in a transaction—sold to the highest bidder or bartered as a favor for which another favor will be returned. To see the full scale of Donald Trump’s betrayal of his country, it is necessary to start with this reality. He kept intelligence documents because, at some point, those secrets could be used in a transaction. What he was stockpiling were the materials of treason. He may not have known how and when he would cash in this currency, but there can be little doubt that he was determined to retain the ability to do just that.

O’Toole skewers the media for focusing on the seemingly haphazard, almost comedic nature of the way the documents were discovered to be stored: in bathrooms and storerooms, amidst a near constant stream of random visitors and guests at Mar-a-Lago, occasionally brandished with a knowing alacrity, seemingly to impress a sycophant or two. As O’Toole notes, this focus misses the essential point.

It defines the scandal as, in the words of Alan Feuer and Maggie Haberman in The New York Times, “Mr. Trump’s indifference toward the country’s most sensitive secrets.” But this is not a tale of indifference. Trump cared a great deal about the value of the documents. He cared enough, per the indictment, to suggest that his attorney lie to the FBI and a grand jury about what papers he did or did not have. Even Trump does not engage in a criminal conspiracy purely for its own sake. The retention of those boxes mattered to him because he understood the market value of what they contained.

more...

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/20/2176395/-Trump-held-on-to-the-documents-because-he-anticipated-an-opportunity-to-commit-treason

[GreenWave]

1. Maybe if he got charged with J6 treason first

he would threaten to release them unless charges are dropped.

[bpj62]

20. Seditious Conspiracy Yes

Trumps actions on January 6th come down to an attempt to overthrow the Government. That is seditious conspiracy. Treason is the act of giving aid, comfort and abetting the enemy. As we are not at war with anyone at this time, it would be hard to prove treason for January 6th.
Treason is the only crime that is actually mentioned in the Constitution and they did this because of the actions of Benedict Arnold. The founders wanted to make it very clear how they felt about treason.

Now if it is ever proven that he gave/sold secret documents to other countries than you may have a case for treason which is punishable by death.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Privatizing public assets is a very profitable business

[Seinan Sensei]

14. And a very 'Republican' thing to do

Public risk
Private gain

[moondust]

15. Just ask his buddy Putin.

Who *may* be the "world’s richest man." A few oligarchs made vast fortunes when they privatized communist assets--including oil and gas--after the Soviet collapse.

Putin’s Net Worth Makes Him the Richest Man in the World

[triron]

3. Of course he did

So far the DOJ Has tiptoed around this

[brush]

4. Agreed that secret info can be very lucrative. The Saudis didn't...

give Kushner 2 billion dollars for nothing. My guess is he was the one who tipped MBS off to journalist Khashoggi's whereabouts, and who knows what else.

trump knew what a treasure trove he had in the documents.

[PCIntern]

5. Exactly.

One Might make a case that some of these documents might have extraordinary value. Say he has documents related to domestic political assassinations, they would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars if guilt could be ascribed to a federal agency or a group of individuals.

[Enoki33]

6. It will be many years before the full

scope of trump's betrayal is fully understood and recorded in history. Suspect it may very well doom the future political viability of the party willing to cast their lot with him for a few dollars and scant praise. They are doomed and do not know it.

[brush]

7. Agreed it'll take time and serious historian/reseachers to...

to do it. trump and his family name will be right there with Benedict Arnold's.

The same should've been the case with the confederate traitors but they were let off easy and he universities and military bases named after them, statues of generals all over the South.

[stopdiggin]

8. " .. answer to that question hasn't been discussed much."

joking right? ------------ ---- ---- ---

Then further on - - "Even Trump does not engage in a criminal conspiracy purely for its own sake."
Have you been paying attention? Trump is known for routinely breaking norms - and laws - oftentimes for no other reason than belligerence and bellicosity. There is a very strong streak of 'oppositional defiance' - that has been clearly demonstrated and long standing. In fact, has anything been clearer in his prior history?

Nothing here to say that Trump did not have ulterior motive. But to claim that motivation is absolutely demonstrated and revealed - in his intransigence ... That just isn't borne out in what we know of this man - and his behavior. Trump is absolutely the kind of guy that would buck the government white hats - for little or no reason beyond, "can't make me."

Sorry - but it's a weak argument - and a poor place to hang your hat.

[Dustlawyer]

9. Occam's Razor, the simplest explanation is usually right!

Most likely, Trump and his spawn sold secrets while in office and wanted to continue the practice. Why tear up the translator’s notes of meetings with Putin? Why keep contact with Russians and Putin secret?

[live love laugh]

10. Also it's a bargaining chip in case things don't go his way.

[republianmushroom]

11. 29 months and counting

[Playingmantis]

12. Even if they found a "Thank you" letter and

a cancelled check from Vladimir Putin, the GOP would not abandon him..

There is no word in the English language that properly describes Trump and the GOP...

[LoisB]

17. I could not agree with you more.

[johnnyfins]

18. Well there was a 2 billion dollar payment

Coincidentally from the country most implicated in 9/11. Just sayin...

Honestly, I dont think they even know how much he stole. They will prolly be finding "empty folders" and missing stuff for years. Those scumbags looted our national secrets. Jared is the #1 offender. That aint no conspiracy theory., either.

[617Blue]

13. because he committed treason

fixed.

[barbtries]

16. who knows whether or not he already sold them.

had them for a good long time.

[LaMouffette]

19. I hope that Jack Smith already has proof that Traitor Trump sold secrets and will use it as the coup

de grace that finally fells the Orange Ogre and results in imprisonment for the rest of Trump's sorry, pathetic life.