Barbara McQuade: Are Trump's Passports the FBI's Smoking Gun?

[babylonsister]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/are-trumps-passports-the-fbis-smoking-gun?ref=home

Are Trump’s Passports the FBI’s Smoking Gun?
PROXIMITY TO A CRIME
DOJ’s latest filing suggests the proximity of Trump’s personal identification to top secret government documents could prove the former president is personally culpable.
Barbara McQuade
Updated Aug. 31, 2022 4:40PM ET / Published Aug. 31, 2022 3:45PM ET

snip//

The significance of the passports is enormous. As DOJ explained in an understated footnote, “The location of the passports is relevant evidence in an investigation of unauthorized retention and mishandling of national defense information.”

In other words, the presence of the passports in the same drawer as the classified records tends to tie the unauthorized possession of these documents to Trump himself. A photo included with the filing shows the items that were recovered from his office. Among the classification markings on the documents are “Top Secret,” meaning that the disclosure of the material could cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States.

snip//

One statute makes it a crime to retain government records. Another statute prohibits willful retention of “national defense information.” The third prohibits concealing documents to obstruct justice. Trump could declassify these documents all day and it would not make a bit of difference in his guilt or innocence of those charges.

Passports usually permit entry to other nations. These have opened the door for investigators.

[gab13by13]

1. Fuck it with this willful, criminal intent BS.

There are mountains of evidence of criminal intent. I don't listen to McQuade anymore, Joyce Vance runs rings around her.

[Walleye]

2. Kid, we found your name on an envelope under a pile of garbage

[steelyboo]

3. yeah, not to mention the aerial photography

[Walleye]

4. Just another case of American blind justice

[andym]

5. That envelope ultimately saved Arlo from serving in Vietnam

While Trump's passport may end up denying him a white house run. Irony.