Trump explains reluctance to turnover documents to National Archives

 National Review:

Former president Donald Trump defended his handling of classified documents during an interview with Fox News that aired Monday, claiming he held onto the documents amid requests from the National Archives and Records Administration to return the materials only because he had personal items mixed in with the records and needed to go through the boxes first.

“The only way NARA could ever get this stuff, this back would be [to say] ‘Please, please, please could we have it back,’” Trump said during a sit-down interview with Bret Baier.

“They did ask for it,” Baier said.

“No, we were talking,” Trump replied.

Baier noted that NARA asked for the documents before the Department of Justice subpoenaed Trump to give back the materials, which the DOJ, in its indictment, describes as “bearing classification markings.” The DOJ’s indictment adds, “We should treat them presumptively as classified.”

Trump noted that NARA has never taken such action before with a former president. Baier asked Trump why he didn’t hand over the records.

“Because I had boxes. I want to go through the boxes and get my personal things out. I don’t want to hand that over to NARA yet. And I was very busy as you’ve sort of seen,” he said.

“Before I send boxes over, I have to take my things out,” Trump said. “These boxes were interspersed with all sorts of things,” including clothing and shoes.
...

An indictment against Trump appears to be an extreme response to the problem.  NARA should work with him on separating the material.

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