Friday, June 9, 2023

Unsealed

The indictment is here for the reading. Just one passage:

The classified documents TRUMP stored in his boxes included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack. The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods.
The document is worth reading in its entirety. It makes clear that Trump knew exactly what he was doing, knew that he wasn’t supposed to be doing it, and went to great lengths to keep what he had in his possession in his possession. Notice, for instance, in section 66, the discussion of a Redweld folder and a “plucking motion.” No words, no explicit instruction, just a motion.

*

Notice too, in a snarky spirit, 58.c., which reproduces a text from a female member of the Trump family to Walt Nauta:
I saw you put boxes to Potus room. Just FYI and I will tell him as well:

Not sure how many he wants to take on Friday on the plane. We will NOT have a room for them. Plane will be full with luggage.
“I saw you put boxes to Potus room”: that’s gotta be Melania Trump, sounding a bit like Natasha Fatale.

It’s so extraordinary to think that that a non-reader may be meeting his downfall over an insistence on keeping printed matter close. I keep thinking about serial killers who save mementos of their crimes. But here the mementos themselves are crimes.

[A Redweld folder? That’s what I think most stationery fanatics know as a red-rope folder.]

comments: 6

Anonymous said...

i haven't read it but certainly intend to. already seeing "whataboutism" popping up all over the news. what about Biden and Pence having documents. hmm, could the difference be that they acknowledged that they did and returned them.

big difference between deliberately loading onto a plane all the while knowing that you are taking them.

kirsten

Michael Leddy said...

And showing them to people.

There’s something especially pathological about the stacks of boxes in the bathroom.

Fresca said...

What is in her (their) luggage that is more important than these documents? Shoes?

Michael Leddy said...

Only Imelda knows for sure.

It’s such a weird glimpse of their relationship: I saw what you did, so I’m telling you and will tell him: no boxes!



Pete said...

He must have had fiendish plan.

Michael Leddy said...

Fix moose and squirrel for good.