The thing that really stands out in the classified documents cases that are popping up

[LymphocyteLover]

all over now, is why in Trump's case, NARA knew the documents were taken and were so eager to get them back.

Possible reasons I can think of:

1) Trump very blatantly took hundreds of documents in large batches, they weren't intermingled with mostly other private papers.

2) the documents Trump took were very top secret highly classified, the most precious secrets, that NARA kept close track of where they went.

3) NARA was just being particularly mean to Trump because they didn't like him.

4) the Biden administration specifically sent NARA after Trump

5) some combination of the above


My guess has always been 1 and 2.

3 and 4 are silly IMO.

[Walleye]

1. Well they knew for sure the Kim Jong Un love letters were missing

Trump was fun of showing off his trophies

[GenXer47]

2. we already know Trump took something related to

another country's nuclear arsenal. So yeah, #2.

[FreepFryer]

3. or, intelligence/DOJ officials learned of Trump's prior or current possession, and informed NARA...

...in order to advance the process without revealing confidential information.