Former President Donald Trump rejected reports that employees at his Mar-a-Lago resort could be summoned to testify in a classified documents case.
What Happened: Trump on Friday refuted the CNN report, calling it “Fake News” on his Truth Social platform.
"Fake News CNN just did a story, leaked by Deranged Prosecutor Jack Smith and his massive team of Radical Left Lunatics, that various people saw papers and boxes at Mar-a-Lago," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He again defended the presence of papers and boxes at Mar-a-Lago, stating, “They may have been the boxes etc. that were openly and plainly brought from the White House, as is my right under the Presidential Records Act.”
Trump is facing a criminal trial over allegations of mishandling classified documents, and it is suspected that various Mar-a-Lago employees, including a plumber, a maid, a chauffeur, and a woodworker, may be asked to testify. According to CNN sources, potential witnesses could also include members of Trump's inner circle, Secret Service agents, former intelligence officials, and other workers at Mar-a-Lago.
Why It Matters: The Presidential Records Act mandates the separation of personal and official records before a president leaves office. The FBI reportedly found over 300 classified documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago property in August 2022.
Trump's trial is slated to start in Florida in May 2024. Judge Aileen Cannon is contemplating postponing the trial until after the presidential election, raising concerns among advocates who want the trial to occur before the next election.
Meanwhile, Trump also questioned the lack of investigation into documents found at places associated with President Joe Biden, asserting that Biden's case "doesn't come under the Presidential Records Act."
Read Next: GOP Gov DeWine Already Plotting To Change Ohio’s Legal Weed Law, Which Biden’s Not Impressed With
Photo by a katz on Shutterstock
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
