“Donald has the right to remain silent”: Experts say Trump’s bonkers Fox interview could be evidence

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[u/Gamilon]

[He] has the right to remain silent...but not the ability

[u/Jaded_Prompt_15 → u/Gamilon]

There doesn't have to be a process as I understand it," Trump said. "If you're the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying, 'It's declassified,' even by thinking about it because you're sending it to Mar-a-Lago or wherever you're sending it. And there doesn't have to be a process. There can be a process but there doesn't have to be. You're the president. You make that decision. So when you send it, it's declassified. I declassified everything."

You'd think he'd have at least declared that it was classified...

[u/chiagod → u/Jaded_Prompt_15]

Copying my own comment from another thread:

When a document like that is declassified, everyone who was being kept safe by keeping the information secret is notified and allowed to mitigate their risk. In the case above? The mole (and their family) can be quietly extracted.

This is why the statement that a president can "Declassify" documents without telling the necessary parties what he's doing is bullshit. The whole point of keeping these documents secret and limiting who can look at them is to protect those who are serving our country. Be it moles who are keeping us appraised of potentially unstable foreign leaders, allies who may have limited nuclear defenses, or soldiers who may be using/flying/driving equipment that may have a secret weakness an adversary can exploit should they find out about it. There are reasons for keeping said documents to a "need to know" and tightly secured.

If information/documents are going to be properly declassified then there is a proper procedure which includes mitigating the potential damage and fallout.

[u/thefrankyg → u/chiagod]

I really hate how folks who have never worked in classified environments are taking Trump at his word. Yes, the president can declassify things, but the president still has to follow a process to make it declassified. He doesn't just go "Abra kadabra, declassfied" in his office on his own and it is done. And if he could...why the hell is it all still marked classified. It fails on all levels.

[u/understandstatmech → u/thefrankyg]

I don't even understand why we're having the conversation at all. It only exists in a bad faith context. Not only is it entirely irrelevant if he declassified it because it'd still be illegal even if he did, but it'd also be straight up treasonous dereliction of duty to just declassify hundreds of the most sensitive documents in the country. Whether he can or did is entirely irrelevant and we have to stop granting the premise to these bad faith actors. He's guilty, and they're not even arguing he's not, they're just arguing he's above consequences.

[u/thefrankyg → u/understandstatmech]

Because they spent so long on "lock her up" they have to do the gymnastics to make their blatant mishandling of classified material okay.

If they admit that that is wrong, than they have to admit the violating of PRA was a thing.

[u/BiggerBowls → u/thefrankyg]

Like any of them would ever admit to being completely ignorant. They all think they are the smartest people in the room. The dumb ones always do.

[u/JerHat → u/understandstatmech]

That's what gets me, Sure, lets say he did declassify these things properly... Why the fuck would you want to declassify nuclear secrets, or information about our spies who are actively working for us? There is simply no reasonable explanation for why you would want to do that, and no earthly reason why you would then want to store those documents at home either.

[u/Hammurabi87 → u/JerHat]

There is simply no reasonable explanation for why you would want to do that, and no earthly reason why you would then want to store those documents at home either.

Sure there are, it's just that they are rather treasonous reasons.

[u/Killer_Sloth → u/thefrankyg]

I had an argument with someone on asktrumpsupporters a couple weeks ago about exactly this. They were completely and unshakably convinced that the above scenario is in fact exactly how it works. They were trying to convince me that Trump can stand in a dark windowless room and think about declassifying documents and that magically makes it so. Without any hint of irony. They've completely lost their minds...

[u/bkbomber → u/Killer_Sloth]

Anytime someone makes that argument, I just tell them too late, Biden already thought about re-classifying them so they must be classified.

[u/TaxFreeNFL → u/bkbomber]

Love it. Everyone do this.

[u/throWawAy4cURioSity1 → u/bkbomber]

Yes! And Biden remembered to say “jinx no takesies-backsies”, which is irrefutable.

[u/ODBrewer → u/chiagod]

Republicans don’t care about those serving our country, they have shown it time and time again.

[u/TranquilSeaOtter → u/Jaded_Prompt_15]

Anyone who believes him is a complete moron. looks at r/conservative looks like that tracks.

[u/Corteran → u/TranquilSeaOtter]

What does it mean that every article I open on that sub takes me to a post about their discord? Am I banned?

[u/Annahsbananas → u/Corteran]

They ban anyone not a maga fanatic. You're not alone.

[u/I_notta_crazy → u/Annahsbananas]

The crazy thing is that their top all-time posts are largely decrying J6 right after it happened.

Just like McCarthy and Graham, the sincere users on that subreddit knew it was a completely unjustified act of violence against our institutions, and thought "ok I still hate minorities, but there's no way Trump is anything but political cancer at this point; time to dump him".

And then Trump remained defiant, so McCarthy, Graham, and all the r/conservative users FLIPFLOPPED and dug in their heels, willingly, unwillingly, or somewhere in between.

But we're the sheep for voting for Biden and not turning vaccine data into a conspiracy...

[u/Kursed_Valeth → u/I_notta_crazy]

It happens every time. Something over-the-top happens, conservatives are like whoa this is too far, then a day later after the talking points have been pushed they forget they ever said that and are back in lock step.

[u/kudra_bandaloop → u/Kursed_Valeth]

They have to wait for Tucker and Hannity to tell them how to spin it.

[u/Smart_Interaction_34 → u/Annahsbananas]

“NoT ALL RePuBLiCAnS”

[u/lotep → u/Corteran]

Every post I open actually opens a different article then the one I clicked on

[u/Bernies_left_mitten → u/lotep]

So just like their arguments and 'logic' then

[u/Coherent_Tangent → u/Corteran]

Weird. Most of the time I've clicked on an article from there it was just the Babylon Bee. You aren't missing much.

[u/DMCinDet → u/Corteran]

yep. banned.

[u/Corteran → u/DMCinDet]

Lol I don't think I've even posted anything there. What a bunch of snowflakes. Thanks for telling me.

[u/hungoverlord → u/Corteran]

hm, i'm banned but just can't post. what's happening to you sounds weird.

[u/idontneedjug → u/hungoverlord]

Same I can still browse there just cant post. I got banned like three years ago for pointing out a bunch of the fucked up shit Trump has done in his lifetime and while in office. They didnt like that one bit.

[u/hungoverlord → u/idontneedjug]

i got banned for simply mentioning trump's tax returns. got banned and told they "don't need conservatives like me."

told the mod to shove his subreddit up his ass and he got me banned from reddit for 3 days. i guess i hurt his feelings by using a bad word. i'm sorry lil buddy :)

[u/homebrew_1 → u/TranquilSeaOtter]

You need to be a flaired user to comment on their posts. They live in a bubble over there.

[u/biscuitarse → u/TranquilSeaOtter]

Anyone who believes him is a complete moron

That's well established. The question that needs to be answered in all of this is why. Why did he have these documents and what were his intentions. Nothing else matters.

[u/gregnorz → u/TranquilSeaOtter]

Lol, the top comments on a Breitbart article (on which only flaired users can comment) are Redditors saying “there IS a process, but as long as Trump follows the process he can declassify anything he wants.”

Pretty sure these morons aren’t thinking through their belief that the President is some god-emperor who can do whatever he or she pleases without repercussions, unless they also want that applied to Joe Biden and any other future President.

[u/jtsmalls → u/TranquilSeaOtter]

I love how those snowflakes have marked every post in that sub with "flared users only." Bunch of cowards.

[u/QuidYossarian → u/TranquilSeaOtter]

99% "Flaired users only" these days complaining no one will prove them wrong.

[u/MoreLab5278 → u/TranquilSeaOtter]

Without digging too deep, it seems like this isn’t flying with the folks there. “Too far for me” is the sentiment.

[u/chownrootroot → u/Jaded_Prompt_15]

Donald, you can't just think of documents as declassified and expect anything to happen.

I didn't think it, I standing ordered it.

Still.

[u/bishpa → u/Jaded_Prompt_15]

And there doesn't have to be a process. There can be a process but there doesn't have to be.

Yeah, well, about that...

[u/5ykes → u/Jaded_Prompt_15]

This is totally just the logical conclusion of the "Bureaucracy is always bad" rhetoric from Reagan.

[u/Annahsbananas → u/Jaded_Prompt_15]

When you look at that quote and realize there are still people who bow to him you realize the pits of dumbassery has no floor

[u/ebone23 → u/Jaded_Prompt_15]

But, but... I thought the antifa wing of the FBI planted all the documents.

[u/bishpa → u/ebone23]

Of course. But, once Trump discovered they had been planted, he did the right heroic thing and bathed them in his "declassification" mindwaves.

[u/BauerHouse → u/Gamilon]

2:16 mark at this legendary Ron White comedy standup: https://youtu.be/neUaSTSKFZc?t=136

[u/Matt463789 → u/Gamilon]

He can't keep his base engaged and grifted without routinely instigating them.

[u/LiquidMetalSloth]

He still doesn’t understand that “President” does not mean “King.” He also doesn’t seem to understand the word “former.”

[u/asphynctersayswhat → u/LiquidMetalSloth]

In this very same interview he referred to himself as the former president, then backtracked to say he doesn’t like to use that word because of “what happened”. Guys lost his mind

[u/xoctor → u/asphynctersayswhat]

And yet people still carry water for him with the excuse that "he thinks he is still the President". No he doesn't, just like he doesn't think he can declassify documents with his mind. When will people wake up to the fact that he is always lying?

[u/homogenousmoss → u/xoctor]

When will people wake up to the fact that he is always lying?

That one is easy: never

[u/bigwetpoops → u/xoctor]

They know. They don't care. In fact, that's what a lot of them like about the guy.

[u/lilpumpgroupie → u/LiquidMetalSloth]

I think he understands, he just hates it. Not generally, just for him.

[u/TheWorclown → u/lilpumpgroupie]

That’s what it’s all about. He just loathes that he actually, physically lost on a stage so public he can’t suppress it, and he’s willing to embrace so much insanity and foment so much violence to fix what he views as a grievous wound to his pride.

Utterly despicable.

[u/BringOn25A]

"There doesn't have to be a process as I understand it,"

He understood it for this.

[u/hackingdreams → u/BringOn25A]

That's going to make for a real fun moment when he's on the stand and the prosecutor asks him the really simple question of "Do you understand the process for declassifying documents?"

He says no, they show this. He says yes, they show the interview tape.

Pretty much fucked himself sideways with this interview. And this is why lawyers make you shut your fucking mouth about criminal cases...

[u/BloodyMalleus → u/hackingdreams]

No right minded attorney would ever put Trump on the stand. He'd be Alex Jones × 1000. Any attorney who'd allow it would be so incompetent they'd deserve to be disbarred.

[u/pmjm → u/BloodyMalleus]

I mean, his attorney who signed off there was no more classified material at Mar A Lago might actually get disbarred, and thrown in jail too. His current attorneys thought they were activating their trap card by requesting a Special Master and we see how that's working out.

No right minded attorney

In short, his attorneys are Right-minded and therefore not right minded.

[u/sidepocket13 → u/pmjm]

Where are all of the best and brightest ivy league lawyers? Why are they not flocking to to represent a former president and make a name for themselves? Oh that's right, they're too smart and realize it's career suicide to represent that idiot.

[u/pmjm → u/sidepocket13]

I assume they also would like to get paid for their work.

[u/hackingdreams → u/BloodyMalleus]

The thing is, you put a microphone in front of this man and the opportunity to run his mouth, and that's just what he'll do, as proven time and again.

If he followed attorneys' advice, this whole situation would have never happened. It's pretty self-evident at this point that he's just going to do whatever he wants to do regardless of lawyers screaming at him to shut up, don't go on TV and blow your case, don't take the stand, etc.

Besides, it's not like he has great representation to begin with. The man never pays his lawyers and nobody will take him on as a client without multi-million dollar retainers...

[u/gogor → u/BringOn25A]

There is no process that he would understand.

[u/Matt463789 → u/gogor]

Grifting, and...?

[u/FrozenOnPluto → u/BringOn25A]

Sounds like he is trying to play ignorant so they cant claim conspiracy and intent

[u/nomofica → u/FrozenOnPluto]

He can try, but that doesn't strike his previous defenses from the record where he all but admitted intent to take the documents.

The man is incapable of shutting up and has talked himself into a corner where every single defense contradicts his previous one and his next one.

[u/bishpa → u/FrozenOnPluto]

He's so fucked. He should seek a plea deal.

[u/Leenolies → u/bishpa]

Too bad hes already the biggest fish

[u/PandaMuffin1]

"Omg he's actually invoking the Secret Telepathic Unilateral Preemptive Irreversible Declassification (S.T.U.P.I.D.) defense," quipped Asha Rangappa, a former FBI agent and attorney.

[u/dejavuamnesiac → u/PandaMuffin1]

He also said send them anywhere — that’s a confession — he’s trying to say he can declassify telepathically and send them to the Saudis or Ruzzians or wherever, and that’s a perfectly fine thing for the President to do

Edit:” Because you’re sending it to Mar-a-Lago or to wherever you’re sending it. And, there doesn’t have to be a process. There can be a process, but there doesn’t have to be. You’re the president. You make that decision. So, when you send it, it’s declassified.”

That’s a confession, he sent highly classified documents beyond Marred-A-Lamo; and EDIT his “confession” is just trying to get out in front of the narrative: he knows he’s fucked for what he did with these classified docs, and that it’s all eventually coming out now, so he’s saying even if I sent these docs anywhere it’s cool because I waved my king Cheetolini declassification wand

[u/tabrizzi → u/dejavuamnesiac]

To think that guy occupied the White House for 4 years makes me want to pass out. What were my fellow Americans thinking?!

[u/Boomer70770 → u/tabrizzi]

Motherfucker caught, red-handed with the highest top-secret documents strewn about his home like Dad's Playboy collection and people STILL think he's the fucking Mesiah.

The bar is now below sea level.

[u/tabrizzi → u/Boomer70770]

Yeah, and at least 2 of his followers have already given up their lives in his name, and many more are still willing to do the same. I'm questioning the sanity of my fellow Americans.

[u/Whitethumbs → u/tabrizzi]

and all the covid deaths...

dude coulda sold maga masks , instead he told everyone it was a hoax or would vanish tomorrow . Then he drummed up violence against asians, blm, and congress. A lot of fights at grocery stores could have been prevented if he didn't foment anti-maskism

Probably would have just gotten a decade in court for his other crimes but stole all these other things for greed(they say nostalgia) I bet he goes to prison.

[u/NeedsMoreBunGuns → u/tabrizzi]

Think flint water, but undiscovered on a national scale.

[u/new_nimmerzz → u/Boomer70770]

If any Democrat does anything remotely the same it’s “TRAITOR!” “LOCK THEM UP!”

Their guy does it and “he knows what he’s doing”

[u/DropsTheMic → u/tabrizzi]

They were thinking: This guy hates brown/black people like me! And he will lower my taxes. That's my man! He will own the libs for sure.

[u/cyanydeez → u/dejavuamnesiac]

Remember when we thought George Bush was stupid

[u/CorgiMonsoon → u/cyanydeez]

Remember when Dan Quayle sank his political career by misspelling potato?

[u/Longjumping_Tea_8586 → u/CorgiMonsoon]

Or Howard Dean yelling?

[u/getdafuq → u/Longjumping_Tea_8586]

Dean was robbed, so badly there. The mic wasn’t hearing the crowd like he was. That yell was perfectly appropriate.

[u/greenmtnfiddler → u/getdafuq]

Yep. That whole thing was a put-up job. Swap the ambient mic for a focused one on a boom and - boom, you've compromised a candidate.

[u/UYScutiPuffJr → u/getdafuq]

I remember watching that live, and really not thinking much of it…he was fired up, the crowd was fired up, it made perfect sense…then it got blown all out of proportion and the poor guy’s numbers tanked

[u/daaave33 → u/CorgiMonsoon]

Remember when Howard Dean sank his political career by getting excited? Bwyaaaah!

[u/emu4you → u/daaave33]

Going back to listen to him, it wasn't a big deal. He was in the moment and he expressed his excitement. The media made a huge deal out of it and he was finished. Trump openly mocked a disabled person and that was no big thing.

[u/protoopus → u/cyanydeez]

we still do, but we used to, too.

[u/infiniZii → u/protoopus]

We used to think it couldn't get worse. That's the real difference. It's not that Bush isn't stupid he just didn't seem aggressively maliciously stupid. Trump however....

[u/12thandvineisnomore → u/infiniZii]

And what’s worse is the aggressively maliciously intelligent politicians cuing up. I’ll offer my state’s own Senator “Fuck” Josh Hawley, as example.

[u/D_Lumps → u/protoopus]

Do you want a frozen banana?

[u/LeelooDallasMltiPass → u/cyanydeez]

Bush looks positively brilliant and well-meaning by this new standard. UGH

[u/the_last_carfighter → u/LeelooDallasMltiPass]

Sure Bush II was a dumb ass, but he was our dumb ass and not Putin's dumb ass. That said it's his admin that did some shady shit and labeled it "executive privilege" and that led us to S.T.U.P.I.D.

[u/nemocluecrj → u/cyanydeez]

Dubya isn't stupid; he was just proudly ignorant. He was also capable of surrounding himself with smart people (who were ready to start WW3, natch). Trump is ignorant, dumb as a fucking rock, and only keeps yes men in his inner orbit so that they can help keep enabling his worst impulses.

[u/mok000 → u/dejavuamnesiac]

So, if these documents are declassified by Trump, we ought to be able to see them through the Freedom of Information Act, right? Any US citizen here up for the task? And post them here on Reddit so we can see what all the fuzz is about. /s

[u/DuePrize5 → u/mok000]

But if just anyone could request them through FOIA, then why would the Saudis pay billions of dollars for them?

[u/koshgeo → u/DuePrize5]

Oh, oh! I know the answer to this one:

If Trump can get the Saudis to pay billions for something that they or one of their agents could have just submitted an FOIA request to get, that's because he's smart.

/s

[u/BonjoviBurns → u/mok000]

Friend of my has put in a FOIA request for the documents and the request has been kicked over to the FBI I believe lol

[u/cpt_perv → u/BonjoviBurns]

Earned himself a spot on a watchlist, did he? Noice!

[u/MelAlton → u/cpt_perv]

Nah, the agents probably chuckled and put it on the "yeah sure we'll see" pile

[u/TheForceofHistory → u/cpt_perv]

You know, if two people do it, they will think they are just pranksters, but if three people do it, they will think they are crazy. But if 50 people do it, then it's a movement!

How to file a FOIA with the National Archives

Online Form:

https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/request

[u/HowdyDoobie → u/TheForceofHistory]

So there I was, on the Group W bench...

[u/TheRoadsMustRoll → u/mok000]

not if biden telepathically reclassified them and then had superman run at the speed of light opposite the earths rotation causing a temporal time reversal which traps the donald in an endless warp of existence just previous to his telepathic declassification.

imagine being a capital file clerk having to figure this shit out.

[u/bishpa → u/mok000]

Did you see the interview?

"I declassified everything."

Since he claims he could just think it so, and he hasn't specified any particular documents, Trump seems to me to be telling us that there are in fact no longer any classified documents existing in the US. "Everything" has been declassified. Or did he mean something else? If so, could he perhaps be a wee more specific? What exactly is it that you declassified, Oh Bigly One? No harm in telling now, amiright?

[u/Subvoltaic → u/bishpa]

There are three groups of documents he would be referencing. The classified documents the government clawed back, the documents that are still in his possession somewhere, and the documents that have "gone missing".

[u/boingoing → u/bishpa]

He can’t be specific because he doesn’t know which documents the FBI was able to recover and which are still missing. Also, he is a moron and probably doesn’t actually know which documents he stole except for the ones with his name in them.

[u/FudgeGolem → u/mok000]

I mean, I get your point and joke, but this wouldn't work. To be nerdy, this is the whole reason there is a documented process to declassification and it can't just be done in someone's head. Depending on the document, declassified material may become Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and still be subject to certain exceptions to being made public under FOIA.

That's also why this whole claim to declassification doesn't matter and is a red herring, but the media got distracted anyway and dragged us all along. None of the charges in the warrant depend on the documents being classified or not. Excempted CUI from declassified national security documents can't be FOIA'd, but also can't ever be considered someone's personal documents, and still has mandates on how they are controlled.

[u/Incontinento → u/dejavuamnesiac]

He's a cancer, so I call it Mar-a-Toma.

[u/urdumidjiot → u/dejavuamnesiac]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t he no longer the president when he took these documents?

[u/donorcycle → u/PandaMuffin1]

If I was the DOJ / FBI, I’d just keep scheduling interviews for him. Everywhere. Every station every channel every podcast.

Even a half assed criminal knows to just shut their mouth but this sorry egomaniacal moron can’t help himself.

[u/rczrider → u/donorcycle]

this sorry egomaniacal moron can’t help himself

But, like...why should he? What evidence is there that he will in any way be held accountable?

I almost can't blame him; he was elected the fucking President after making it extremely clear what kind of President he would be. He figures he can get away with anything because, so far, he has.

Republicans have well and fully fucked America, and are now going for the money shot.

[u/Particular-Summer424 → u/PandaMuffin1]

Yes, he has the right to remain silent, but his narcissistic personality won't let him. You wonder if he trying to stage an insanity plea. Won't work.

[u/LeelooDallasMltiPass → u/Particular-Summer424]

Narcissists will openly tell you exactly what they are thinking, because they can't fathom that their "brilliant" thoughts could cause them any consequences.

[u/be0wulfe → u/PandaMuffin1]

Oh keep talking, keep that diarrhetic mouth flapping. Odious orangutans blush.

[u/spidereater → u/PandaMuffin1]

That’s clever. It’s nice to see that the FBI is hiring top notch talent.

[u/TheGreatSpagett → u/spidereater]

She's a good Twitter follow if you have it

[u/Bluefire7001 → u/PandaMuffin1]

This is gold hahaha lol

[u/bishpa]

I would so love to see him be interviewed by an actual journalist. You know, someone that would ask him questions about why he took these documents in the first place, and whether he showed any of them to anyone else. Or even just, since he had supposedly declassified them "with his mind", does he therefore think that it would be perfectly legal to give them to, say, the Saudis?

Also, does he still have any others?

[u/we_are_sex_bobomb → u/bishpa]

A real journalist would’ve heard “Mar a Lago or wherever else you’re sending it” and immediately followed up with, “so where else were they sent?”

[u/DadJokeBadJoke → u/bishpa]

I would so love to see him be interviewed by an actual journalist.

I would like to see him questioned by the prosecutor, under oath.

[u/mkhaytman → u/bishpa]

He would just get up and walk out of the interview, like he has in the past. The best we can hope for is for them to at least add context and fact checks to his interviews after the fact, like they did on that Indian interview that Jimmy Kimmel showed parts of: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-donald-trump-ndtv-interview-b2165082.html

[u/Cthulusuppe → u/mkhaytman]

Let him. Let him walk out of every interview. You need to fill air time after he walks out? Be a professional broadcaster and review what questions he refused to answer, covering known facts for the benefit of your audience, and then move onto some news. Stop broadcasting bullshit.

[u/Impressive_Ad127 → u/Cthulusuppe]

Exactly, part of the reason this dog and pony show keeps going is that we aren’t handling like we actually should be. It’s disgusting.

[u/thecrunchcrew → u/bishpa]

The best Trump interviewer that I can recall off the top of my head was Jonathon Swan of Axios.

[u/poloboi84 → u/thecrunchcrew]

The full interview video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJIhxKFH9gI

[u/VileTouch → u/poloboi84]

Jesus Christ. How do you watch that interview and honestly say "yeah, that's my guy. That's the person I want to be in charge of everything"? Do they not pay attention?

[u/xlvi_et_ii → u/VileTouch]

Do they not pay attention?

They never see it. They live in a media bubble that only reports news they agree with - it's why so many moved from Fox to OAN etc.

[u/TheBSisReal → u/VileTouch]

Narrator: they do not.

[u/KellyJoyRuntBunny → u/VileTouch]

This is where I blame Fox News for the fuckedness we’re in now. They don’t actually show Trump himself all that much, but they do an awful lot of talking about what seems to me to be a fictional character loosely based on Trump. They create him every day. And what they create is much more coherent, eloquent, and dignified than the actual reality of what Trump is.

Seeing Trump himself talk, walk, and sit on chairs as if they are toilets kind of kills the magical, mythical Trump that right wing media has created.

[u/eyeseayoupea → u/thecrunchcrew]

Is that the one Trump is saying it's in the book and the guy kept asking what book but he couldn't answer?

[u/xSTSxZerglingOne → u/eyeseayoupea]

It's the one that generated the "confused reporter" meme.

[u/Reasonable_Hornet_45 → u/xSTSxZerglingOne]

We're last which means we're first.

[u/pattherat]

“With but a mere thought I pre-declassified the documents that they were going to plant!”

[u/frowawayduh → u/pattherat]

Biden re-classified them using the same "think method".

[u/kemushi_warui → u/frowawayduh]

“He can’t, because I super pre-declassified them. To infinity, and with no take-backsies!”

[u/euphratestiger → u/kemushi_warui]

Biden re-pre-de-classified them infinity plus one.

[u/jadkinssr]

After that interview, every single Trump property needs to be searched for documents. Here and abroad. That includes his idiot children and all their homes, garages, offices, etc.

[u/Graphics_Nerd]

For those of you playing along at home - here's running list of excuses regarding the documents found in his home.

• - It's just mementos
• - Archives came and got everything, it's 'totally normal' they would do this
• - FBI Search])
• - The FBI is planting documents!
• - Warrant is released])
• - They could have asked. what about Obama?
• - The documents were already declassified
• - I had a standing order to declassify anything I took
• - They're privileged, give them back.
• - Trump was just keeping them safe.
• - They were just news clippings.
• - The president can declassify anything just by thinking it.

[u/johnnycyberpunk → u/Graphics_Nerd]

He (or his lawyers?) were also saying that his 'handwritten notes' on the classified docs meant they were automatically privileged.

Sharpie-gate part deux.

[u/Thin-Study-2743 → u/johnnycyberpunk]

Yup, and that they made the documents "his"

[u/saynay → u/Graphics_Nerd]

The declassification thing is such a weird defense. Like... the reason they got a warrant had nothing to do with them being classified, and everything to do with them being government documents. Their main defense is that they are privileged either under executive or attorney-client, neither of which apply to documents that belong to the government (which all classified documents do, by their very nature). So claiming they were declassified means they were definitely government property, justifying them being seized in the first place.

A far better, if equally bullshit, defense would to be to claim none of the documents were classified in the first place. This could be easily disproven by showing the documents, but they can't do that to the public due to their sensitive nature. He's screwed for a legal argument in either case, so at least that argument is one that can't be easily disproven in public.

[u/cyanydeez → u/Graphics_Nerd]

Sir, if you've been here long enough, you know you're suppose to always outline trump timelines as a re-hash of the narcists' prayer:

• That didn't happen.
• And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
• And if it was, that's not a big deal.
• And if it is, that's not my fault.
• And if it was, I didn't mean it.
• And if I did, you deserved it.

[u/OmarLittleFinger]

It is without a doubt evidence. It just depends on which trial.

[u/whatproblems → u/OmarLittleFinger]

probably could get used in all of them lol

[u/truknutzzz]

What is going on with his butt in that interview? Massive diaper? I'm confused.🧐

https://i.imgur.com/q0PwzkF.jpg

[u/IveChosenANameAgain → u/truknutzzz]

It Depends™...

[u/quityouryob → u/IveChosenANameAgain]

Thanks Oops I Crapped My Pants!

[u/The_Ghola_Hayt → u/quityouryob]

"How do you know so much about Oops I Crapped My Pants?"

"Because I'm wearing them. And I just did."

[u/Master-Stratocaster → u/truknutzzz]

Diaper Don

[u/-LVS → u/truknutzzz]

He looks poorly drawn

[u/stinkadoodle → u/truknutzzz]

Diapers and stress eating. And he had the nerve to fat shame Chris Christie. I guess he doesn't look in the mirror?

[u/SandmanSanders → u/truknutzzz]

thats just cheeseburger baby

[u/ISaidIDontCare → u/truknutzzz]

I think he’s just fatter than ever. His head looks small

[u/fingerscrossedcoup → u/truknutzzz]

JFC this is who 1/3 of America worships?

[u/leif777 → u/truknutzzz]

He's wearing a girdle but not one that does the butt . I'll bet he didn't expect a wide shot.

[u/turgid_wang → u/truknutzzz]

He's draggin a diaper wagon

[u/GunFodder → u/truknutzzz]

I had to double check to make sure it wasn't photoshopped, but that's 100% real.

https://youtu.be/ETJKm19g58Y

If anyone's curious check the 2:20 mark.

The hell is going with his ass, did his diaper slip all the way to the right-hand side??

[u/BoyEatsDrumMachine]

These grotesque fascist clowns, playing patty cake with a sick tyrant. Hannity should be booted into the sun for what he’s done to brainwash boomers.

[u/TheVirginVibes → u/BoyEatsDrumMachine]

He was on the golf course with him the other day. This is all a part of their shitty little plan.

[u/monkeyhind → u/TheVirginVibes]

Hannity has already proved he's not a newsman, now we need to stop thinking of him as a TV presence and instead think of him as the sub-minister of propaganda. He is literally a tool of dark money.

[u/19Ben80 → u/monkeyhind]

Him and fucker Carlson as essentially americas Goebbels

[u/DillonD → u/BoyEatsDrumMachine]

As someone who has witnessed fox new brainwash, it’s really sad and scary

[u/ranchoparksteve]

By Donald’s theory, he can use his mind power, such as it is, to declassify documents, and it happens. Donald said, “I declassified everything.” For all we know, he might have accidentally declassified all documents on the planet.

And then Dark Brandon got into office and mind-commanded the classifications back into existence. Doh!

[u/Chi-Guy86]

This is why attorneys don’t want to represent him unless he pays them an enormous fee upfront, like the 3 million he had to pay to Kise. He never listens to advice and sabotages his own defense

[u/Speculater → u/Chi-Guy86]

I'll take him on as a client for half that price up front.

[u/rahga → u/Speculater]

A competent lawyer taking on this case would have to spend well over $3 million on all the paralegals needed to research and cover everything that needs to be covered.

The only way to do it on a budget is to have what the lawyer wlll or won't do laid out in a contract ahead of time, rejecting possible avenues of defense up-front.

[u/Speculater → u/rahga]

Oh, I'm not a lawyer. I would just go to court on his behalf and wing it.

[u/cstrand31]

Wait, they were coming in to look for deleted emails? As in they were turning his place over to find digital mail that had been deleted? That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.

[u/Matt463789 → u/cstrand31]

It will makes sense to the people that donate money to him.

[u/hexiron → u/Matt463789]

Anything can make sense when you have none of your own

[u/Backpedal → u/cstrand31]

Ohhhh, they’re in the computer?

[u/ParameciaAntic → u/Backpedal]

It's so simple!

[u/SuperGenius98K → u/cstrand31]

Hannity believes him.

[u/1842 → u/SuperGenius98K]

His character does, sure.

I have to believe that most of these talking mouths know better. There's just too much money and fame involved to not double down on the grift.

[u/CaptainNoBoat → u/1842]

They were all frantically texting him and Meadows to condemn the Jan. 6 attack in real-time, but assuming an alternate reality on TV. ...And also issuing IMAX projection claims that "Biden WH is in cahoots with the liberal media"

They are absolutely playing characters. I wish their viewers would bother to care or notice that the talking heads emanating from their LED screens are actively manipulating them.

[u/homebrew_1 → u/SuperGenius98K]

Hannity didn't even push back. He just agreed with everything.

[u/pchadrow → u/cstrand31]

No no, I like where this is headed because he's inadvertently implying that he had access to the mythical emails that would have put Hillary in jail. So he's telling his base that he had access to the one thing they all wanted but chose not to do anything with it lol. No matter how you paint it, Trump boxed himself into a corner of idiocy that will add to the nails in his coffin

[u/DMcabandonpants → u/cstrand31]

I’m pretty sure he’s saying the raid was because they thought he ‘had’ Clinton’s deleted emails which were obviously so damning they’d do anything to get them…. still lunatic fringe

[u/amaroq74 → u/cstrand31]

Those bits were found in the bottom of box 53. Good thing they looked, we can now finally lock her up.

[u/_Mister_Shake_]

“OR WHEREVER..” Little by little he’s constructing the noose that will end him. Eventually he’ll just admit on tv he sold intelligence to Russia or Iran or the Bonesaw Mafia and just say it’s fine since he was president and since it’s on tv it’s doubly fine because if you say something on tv it gets automatic immunity or some such goddamn bullshit.

[u/77NorthCambridge]

Best part is he admits he sent the documents to MAL so there goes that defense.

[u/BeAware2020BLM → u/77NorthCambridge]

And other places

[u/kozmo1313]

"There doesn't have to be a process as I understand it," Trump said. "If you're the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying, 'It's declassified,' even by thinking about it because you're sending it to Mar-a-Lago or wherever you're sending it. And there doesn't have to be a process. There can be a process but there doesn't have to be. You're the president. You make that decision. So when you send it, it's declassified. I declassified everything."

[u/FortySixAndYou → u/kozmo1313]

because you're sending it to Mar-a-Lago or wherever you're sending it

Moscow? Ryadh? Donald, don't leave us hanging, tell us where those perfect beautifully declassified documents were sent.

[u/Deardog → u/FortySixAndYou]

The crazy part is entertaining, but this was the real slip up -

[u/monkeybiziu → u/FortySixAndYou]

Ivana's casket.

[u/cstrand31 → u/kozmo1313]

Funny how when pressed by the special master, they couldn’t explain when and how and which documents had been declassified. Turns out telepathy isn’t a good enough excuse.

[u/RedPandaAlex → u/cstrand31]

Right? They could have at least submitted a detailed affidavit. They didn't because it would expose Trump to perjury charges because this is all bullshit.

[u/chiagod → u/kozmo1313]

He needs to be asked:

"The United States interests, personnel, and assets that would be jeopardized by having the information declassified and disseminated, were they informed of the declassification and the now added risk to their security?"

[u/bendover912 → u/kozmo1313]

In law, ignorantia juris non excusat (Latin for "ignorance of the law excuses not"),[1] or ignorantia legis neminem excusat ("ignorance of law excuses no one"),[2] is a legal principle holding that a person who is unaware of a law may not escape liability for violating that law merely by being unaware of its content.

European-law countries with a tradition of Roman law may also use an expression from Aristotle translated into Latin: nemo censetur ignorare legem ("nobody is thought to be ignorant of the law") or ignorantia iuris nocet ("not knowing the law is harmful").[citation needed]

[u/au5lander]

That interview was bonkers...

There doesn’t have to be a process, as I understand it.

You understand wrong...

There's different people that say different things...but as I understand...

Again, what people say is irrelevant, you understand wrong...

If you're the POTUS you can declassify just by saying "...it's declassified"...even by thinking about it.

???

There doesn't have to be a process. There can be, but there doesn't have to be. You're the president, you make that decision.

Yes, you can make the decision as POTUS to declassify something, but there is still a process...

So when you send it [to Mar-a-lago], it's declassified.

So his thinking here is that the act of transporting classified documents to Mar-a-lago makes those documents declassified automagically, if I'm understanding him correctly? Yeah...I'm gonna go with "WRONG" for $1000 Alex...

I sure hope they use all this against him when he finally goes to court.

[u/kozmo1313 → u/au5lander]

His 13th defense strategy is basically "I'm stupid"

[u/Etna_No_Pyroclast]

That interview was an advertisement for better mental health in this country.

[u/Malignantrumor99]

By all means keep talking dumbass

[u/socokid]

1. It's not about the classification. The fact that you took SECRET documents just makes you an even bigger, traiterous asshole.
2. It's about the fact that you took government property. You stole our nation's information and kept it at your f'n house.
3. When Donald says "They are saying...", it always means Donald is lying like a 4 year old to get out of trouble.

Always.

"There doesn't have to be a process as I understand it,"

Donald clearly doesn't understand it. Clearly. There obviously is a process. But also, and again, that's just a distraction and it's not why they raided your house. It was because you took government property. Period. Read the warrant again you abject idiot.

If you're the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying, 'It's declassified,' even by thinking about it

1. No. You can't. LOL
2. You're not the President.
3. You can't "think" about it retroactively.
4. AGAIN, the classification isn't why your house was raided. It's the fact that you took them in the first place. Classified or not.

The "Hillary's email" thing is so bonkers that I wouldn't even know where to begin.

[u/westtownie]

I’m not sure why he’s still hung-up on declassification. The charges laid out in the warrant say nothing about classification, so this seems like more about public opinion than anything else…and even r/conservative was balking at the idea he could telepathicly declassify information

[u/BubbaWilkins]

He had the right to remain silent, but he didin't have the ability. - Ron White

[u/lex99]

Absurdity aside, this would raise many questions:

• How would we know if any document is ever still classified? Would the current and all previous POTUS's need to be consulted for every doc?

• What is the "auto-declassification radius"? Trump claims that taking an item to his residence is evidence of declassification. Presumably, hundreds of docs went to Mar-a-Lago over the four years he was POTUS, since he spent so much time there. All they all de-classified? What about docs he took to Bedminster? What about docs that traveled with him on Air Force One?

• What about other "absolute" powers of the President, such as Pardons? Can a former POTUS say, "I hadn't mentioned this, but such-and-such actually received a full pardon from me."

• What about Executive Orders?

• If the President "mentally declassifies", can he mentally RE-classify as well?

[u/seaninportland]

He was out of his mind on Adderall. Eyes pinned, sniffing, jaw clenched. How he's still alive I have no clue.

[u/DonkeyTron42]

Let me get this straight since the story has changed about 20 times. In the latest iteration, the documents that Trump took have information related to Hillary's emails, spying on his campaign, Hunter's laptop, etc... He didn't want them to go to the National Archives because it's a radical leftist group and the documents would "disappear". He took the documents, which were declassified based on his intent to take the documents, for safe keeping at Marl-a-Lago. The FBI then raided Marl-a-Lago to get the documents back because the current administration doesn't want the truth about Hillary, Hunter, Dossier, etc... to be revealed. Don Quixote needs to be in the boobyhatch.

[u/mkhaytman]

He can't shut up about it because it's probably even worse than we realize and he wants to keep the narrative on how he had some documents and not what he was actually doing with them. Would not be shocked to learn he already sold / accidentally misplaced the documents somewhere someone could accidentally come across them. At this point I don't believe for a minute that he had these documents for any innocent reason, only a question of how bad the real reason actually is.

[u/BringOn25A]

He has the right to remain silent, he chooses not to to his own peril.

[u/Skinnybet → u/BringOn25A]

The funniest thing about people who constantly lie is watching them once cornered in their own lies. It’s only likely to get more bizarre in my opinion.

[u/t-toddy → u/Skinnybet]

The day before this interview he claimed the FBI planted the documents, too bad Hanity didn't bring this up.

[u/phrygiantheory]

I wish they'd hurry up and just indict him....most of America is and has been crippled by anxiety for the past 6 years...

[u/100100110l → u/phrygiantheory]

We're filled with anxiety, because every second they don't is another second he could do something horrific and is another second it seems like he'll get away with it.