Don’t look now, but by Donald Trump The excuse “I’m an idiot” can go up in smoke, because of the notion that Trump sincerely thinks he can wave and magically see declassified documents seems to be having a big hit.
According to CNN“…the National Archives plans to hand over 16 documents to the special counsel that demonstrate Trump knows the correct procedure to declassify those documents.” In a letter obtained by CNNacting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall inform Trump that “The 16 files in question all reflect communications involving close advisers to the president, some of which were sent directly to him personally, regarding whether he should be debunked. secret some confidential files or not, why and how”.
This development can be significant because, as CNN notes, it “raises the question of whether Trump intends to commit a crime, a fundamental cornerstone of any lawsuit against him.”
For years, Trump has been supported by the feeling that he is too stupid, crazy, misguided, incompetent or chaotic to intentionally break the law.
A few years ago, the famous author Bob Woodward argued that Trump was too disorganized to conspire with Russia. Jonah Goldberg, a conservative Trump skeptic, similarly noted that Trump does not have the authority to remove collusion with Russia. They may have had a point.
The same argument is hard to come by regarding Trump’s further actions—including his attempt to reverse the 2020 election results and his unauthorized obtaining and keeping of classified documents (both currently being is being investigated by special counsel Jack Smitha prosecutor is so serious that he doesn’t smile image).
Trying to preemptively weaken Trump Defense George Costanza— “It’s not a lie if you believe it” — The Jan. 6 committee went to great lengths to prove that Trump was fully aware that he actually lost the 2020 election.
Trump aides even testified that Trump has said things like, “Can you believe I lost to this damn guy?” means Joe Biden.
In news that I still consider underrated, then-Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) dropped this bomb: “Knowing that you are about to leave office, [Trump] act immediately and sign [an] orders on November 11, requiring the immediate completion of the withdrawal of troops from Somalia and Afghanistan by Biden’s inauguration on January 20.”
Anyone with common sense could evaluate the evidence and determine that Trump knew he had lost the 2020 election; the alternative is unreasonable (that he’s just trying to stop Biden from stealing the election from he).
Likewise, even before it was announced that the National Archives had handed over those 16 documents, Trump had shown himself weak to classified documents.
According to NBCNews“Trump’s lawyers told Congress last month that classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago complex got there by accident.”
However, at CNN town hall last week, Trump proudly announced that, no, it was not an accident. In reality, He order red code.
“I took what I took and it will be declassified… I have every right to do that,” Trump insisted. “I don’t hide it. You know, the boxes are located outside the White House. Everyone is taking pictures…”
So far, Trump has benefited from the “soft obstinacy of low expectations,” whereby people believe he is too irrational or incompetent to intend to commit a real crime. Just as it can be hard to get mad at a child for acting like a child, Trump shies away from behavior that others would mock.
When he became president, things got even worse, when he accepted “Richard Nixon’s”.When the president does it, it means it’s not illegal” philosophy.
This, along with his uncanny ability to talk like a bandit and speak in code—”I just want to find 11,780 votes” —allowed a certain reasonable refusal to exist.
But can he get rid of this behavior indefinitely?
Trump has been indicted over an alleged gag payment scheme to a porn star, and he has been charged with sexual assault and defamation. And at least three potential indictments left in the future pose a more serious threat to Trump.
Unlike the political opponents he controls, prosecutors have the power to subpoena (that’s how they got their 16 presidential records).
And as we saw in the $5 million civil lawsuit that Trump just lost, unlike the fake world until you do what Trump is used to, in court people really have to in charge of; The courts have ruled.
This doesn’t mean Trump won’t skate anymore. But the idea that he will be able to escape prosecution by claiming ignorance or incompetence seems increasingly unlikely.
To paraphrase Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), It’s time to dispel once and for all this fictional notion that Donald Trump doesn’t know what he’s doing. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
And he’ll keep doing it, as long as he thinks he can get away with it.
