Pictured above are documents found as a result of the search warrant of Mar-A-Lago. Some of these documents were found in Trump's office. They were found in many locations, none of which had the level of security needed for highly classified documents.
We are ascending a level of misdeeds that put whoever was involved in this at significant risk of indictment, prosecution, and conviction. And, yes, that includes the former President of the United States, Donald J Trump.
This is a brief overview, but it indicates where we're at and where we might be headed.
Level 1
Violations of the Presidential Records Act
These are records under the Presidential Records Act that must be retained by the National Archives. Some may eventually wind up in a Presidential Library, but under no circumstances will they be in private hands, not even a former President.
The punishments include fines, prison up to three years, and, I quote, they could be "disqualified from holding any office under the United States."
Have we met the prerequisites for Level One?
Yes, we have. The records don't have to be classified to meet this threshold. And his possession of them was not accidental.
Verdict - Indicted on these charges! Compounded with willful retention and obstruction of justice.
Level 2
Violations of the Espionage Act
This is the misuse and possession of classified and top-secret information. And, yes, the FBI has established that several hundred of these documents were kept, including documents at the highest level of security and documents that could expose and harm human intelligence assets. But, again, the security level for these documents was woefully inadequate, some alarmingly so.
The punishments for violations of the Espionage Act for mishandling defense information are fines and up to ten years in prison.
Have we met the prerequisites for Level One?
Yes, we have. He had highly classified documents, and they were not secure.
Verdict - big-time violations! At least thirty-one! Evidence includes that he shared them, knew he had not declassified them, and left them in unsecured locations - I mean, in a BATHROOM, for God's sake!
Level 3
Obstruction of Justice
It is a crime to obstruct an investigation into potential crimes. You cannot lie. You cannot misdirect. You cannot defy proceedings.
The punishments for this vary greatly, depending on their severity. There are fines. There are prison sentences ranging from six months to twenty years.
Have we met the prerequisites for Level Three?
Yes, we have. He didn't release anything back to the National Archives until January 2022. That means he held onto everything for about a FULL YEAR.
Then they had to go back to get more in June 2022. Trump's lawyer lied and signed that they had everything - no more documents were left at Mar-A-Lago.
He lied. He still had many more records, including around 100 classified documents, which the DOJ had to resort to a search warrant to obtain.
He lied. He misled. He delayed. He's guilty of Level Three.
Verdict - indicted on obstruction. Based on the testimony of others and ON HIS OWN WORDS.
Level 4
Exposure of Classified Materials
Well, we don't know why he had these documents. We don't know what he did with them.
We do know that security was lax at Mar-A-Lago. It's a HOTEL. People come and go. It is even possible that foreign agents or spies could get in and find out classified secrets.
We don't know which documents, if any, Trump was showing to other people, like guests, he was trying to impress.
I'm not sure of the punishments. I think it would just ramp up the penalties under the Espionage Act.
Have we met the prerequisites for Level Four?
Not sure yet. That will require more investigation, including surveillance footage.
Verdict - he did share them. He left them unsecured. Did he sell them, deliberately reveal them to foreign powers? We don't know yet.
Level 5
Selling of Classified Materials
This is selling classified information to other nations, organizations, or individuals.
The punishment? Why don't we ask Ethel and Julius Rosenburg? If that historical reference is unfamiliar, we're talking about execution.
Some dare call it TREASON.
Have we met the prerequisites for Level Five?
No. And I pray that we don't.
Vrtdict - no indictments. I have not seen any evidence that he sold them. It is a logical inference based on his character but only an inference.
But you have to ask yourself - why did the narcissistic, money-hungry real estate con artist want this stuff? Has he ever done anything without benefitting himself? What was his purpose?
Perhaps he's a toddler who just couldn't let go. MINE! MINE! MINE!
Perhaps he was looking for leverage, a quid pro quo? Don't think that was his modus operandi? Why don't you check in with Ukraine? Quid pro quo is damn near Trump's middle name.
Perhaps he was looking to sell it? Pictures of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers come to mind. I'll sell this information for "one million dollars!"
Would Trump actually do this?
I don't know. But you have to ask yourself this - based on what we know of Trump's behavior and personality-
Can we rule it out?
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