Trump appears to acknowledge ‘highly confidential’ documents in audio tape

Former President Donald Trump appears to have acknowledged keeping national security documents he did not declassify, according to an audio recording obtained by CNN.

In the two-minute recording, Trump can be heard stating, “these are the papers” while referring to something he calls “highly confidential.”

"This was done by the military and given to me," Trump said in the recording. "See as president I could have declassified it. Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret."

Trump describes his “big pile of paper” to people in the room and says, “Isn’t it amazing? … They presented me this — this is off the record.”

The tape, first obtained by CNN, comes from a July 2021 meeting at Trump’s Bedminster, N.J., golf club. The existence of the tape, which CNN described as a critical piece of evidence in special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump, was reported by CNN earlier this month.

Trump was charged this month with illegally retaining national security secrets and obstruction of justice. Trump pleaded not guilty to the 37 felony charges.

In a Truth Social post Monday night, Trump claims Smith worked in conjunction with the Department of Justice and FBI to illegally leak and spin a tape.

“The Deranged Special Prosecutor, Jack Smith, working in conjunction with the DOJ & FBI, illegally leaked and 'spun' a tape and transcript of me which is actually an exoneration, rather than what they would have you believe,” Trump said in the post. “This continuing Witch Hunt is another ELECTION INTERFERENCE Scam. They are cheaters and thugs!”