Former President Donald Trump insisted he did not delete Mar-a-Lago security tapes, but rather voluntarily handed them over to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team.
“Mar-a-Lago tapes were not deleted,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “They were given to the thugs headed by deranged Jack Smith.”
Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba echoed this on Fox News, saying all requested tapes were turned over, despite claims of obstruction. She maintained Trump would never impede such requests.
This follows new charges alleging Trump schemed to conceal tapes from the FBI after they subpoenaed footage during their June search. Prosecutors say Trump worked with staff to hide evidence.
But Trump denies any wrongdoing, calling the charges harassment to intimidate and spur false claims. He believes investigators are fabricating crimes as they did with the Russia probe.
Trump sees the latest indictment as a desperate ploy by the Biden administration to malign him and his associates. He contends he fully cooperated with authorities in providing the tapes.
By asserting he voluntarily surrendered the footage sought, Trump aims to rebut accusations of concealment or obstruction. He hopes to cast the DOJ’s actions as politically motivated persecution, not impartial justice.
But prosecutors tell a very different story in alleging Trump knowingly impeded their investigation. The contentious battle now centers on the true circumstances around the Mar-a-Lago tapes.