Biden may have trouble unearthing Trump's national security secrets

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

From tearing up documents and hiding transcripts of calls with foreign leaders to using encrypted messaging apps and personal email accounts for government business, the Trump White House’s skirting of records preservation rules could limit the incoming Biden administration’s visibility into highly sensitive foreign policy and national security secrets.

The mysteries have swirled over the past four years: What was really said during Trump’s many phone calls and one-on-one meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin? What has Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kusher discussed with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman on WhatsApp, where messages can be automatically deleted? Did Trump’s aides memorialize any of the reported conversations he had with U.S. and foreign officials about boosting his business empire?

The Presidential Records Act, which requires a sitting president to preserve and ultimately make public all records relating to the performance of their official duties, was passed 42 years ago in response to President Richard Nixon’s attempts to hide the White House tapes that led to his downfall. The law makes presidential records available to the public via the Freedom of Information Act beginning five years after the end of an administration.

But it has no real enforcement mechanism and relies on the president’s good faith compliance, said Kel McClanahan, the executive director of the law firm National Security Counselors.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-may-trouble-unearthing-trump-174824712.html

[C_U_L8R]

1. What's the NSA been doing for the last 3 years?

[TheRealNorth]

2. no doubt they have tried to cover their tracks

I am sure we will uncover numerous undocumented contacts. But unless the NSA had those conversations tapped, we probably won't know exactly what they were about.

[JHB]

3. Well, unearth everything they can, make public what isn't classified,...

...and provide a public damage assessment, including specifically laying out the "unknown, because in violation of the ORA records were destroyed or not kept.

[Dem2]

4. All the nuttiness right now is likely just a cover

For the shredding and burning they're frantically doing behind the scenes.

[exboyfil]

5. I am hoping that some of the IT professionals are true patriots

and figure out ways to preserve this information. Also Biden and his administration's relationship with other countries may also help as we get the information from them.

[LiberalFighter]

6. Those records Trump can't destroy.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. We now know, beyond a doubt, that Republicans do not operate in 'good faith'.

[Sogo]

8. Well, there WAS a moving van parked outside the WH

last week....

[2naSalit]

9. It was a large rental truck...

rather than an actual household carrier like Mayflower.

[demmiblue]

10. ...