Ahead of his departure from office, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, denies allegations of advising a military attack on Iran during the Trump administration.
What Happened: Gen. Milley publicly responded to claims that he had recommended military action against Iran during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, according to a report from The Hill.
This comes amid ongoing legal disputes involving former President Trump over charges of allegedly failing to return classified documents.
In an audio recording from 2021, Trump claimed to have a classified document indicating that Milley had advised an attack on Iran. However, Gen. Milley denies knowledge of such a document and reaffirms the serious implications of a military attack on Iran.
The veracity of Trump’s claim is under scrutiny as the document’s existence remains unconfirmed. The special counsel investigating Trump alleges in a July indictment that the former president unlawfully retained a document concerning “military activity in a foreign country,” which is speculated to relate to Iran.
Why It Matters: These allegations are part of a larger issue involving Trump’s handling of classified documents post-presidency. A recording reportedly exists where Trump admits to keeping a classified document on Iran after leaving office.
In June, Trump’s lawyers were unable to locate the classified document in question. A new audio recording later emerged revealing Trump discussing classified documents he retained during a 2021 meeting in New Jersey.
In August it was reported that Trump reportedly acknowledged his loss in the 2020 election and said a national security issue would be left for “the next guy” in a private meeting with Gen. Milley. These events highlight the complexities surrounding the allegations against Trump and his handling of classified documents.
Photo by Joseph Sohm on Shutterstock
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