Donald Trump Told Australian Businessmen Secret Information About US Submarine, Reports Say
Donald Trump is once again being investigated, this time over allegedly sharing sensitive information about a US submarine with an Australian businessman at Mar-a-Lago. The incident reportedly happened after he left office.
The Australian businessman in question is billionaire Anthony Pratt, who was staying at Mar-a-Lago in April 2021 and spent some time there with the former president. Several sources, including ABC News, NBC News, and the New York Times, confirmed that the ex-POTUS shared sensitive information about the submarine with the foreigner. Two sources familiar with the situation were cited.
The incident was already reported to Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is also investigating Trump's handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results through fraudulent and violent means.
Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung called the report "illegal leaks."
He claims these are "coming from sources which totally lack proper context and relevant information. The Department of Justice should investigate the criminal leaking, instead of perpetrating their baseless witch-hunts while knowing that President Trump did nothing wrong, has always insisted on truth and transparency, and acted in a proper manner, according to the law."
Pratt has already been interviewed by the FBI, and he has recounted that he told the ex-president that Australia should buy submarines from the US. This excited Trump and told him what was supposed to be classified information regarding US subs.
Pratt, executive global chairman of cardboard company Pratt Industries, reportedly told these secrets to at least 45 other people, including Australian officials, former prime ministers, journalists, and his own employees.
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Republicans Silent About Donald Trump Leaking Classified Information to a Foreigner
Republicans were sounding the alarm on Hillary Clinton possibly violating classified information rules by using her own personal emails. However, they were largely silent about their presidential frontrunner leaking sensitive information to foreigners.=
According to the Washington Post, a poll showed that around two-thirds of Republicans do not believe Trump had classified documents. This is after the FBI searched his Mar-a-Lago home and actually found classified documents.
That same poll also found that only 18% of Republicans thought the ex-POTUS's classified documents indictment was "very serious," while only 14% said they would be "very concerned" if any of the classified documents Trump kept fell into the wrong hands.
Donald Trump Repeatedly Changed His Defense Regarding Classified Documents
Donald Trump's sharing classified information with an Australian businessman has certainly sparked concerns. However, his defense of his mishandling of classified information has been quite inconsistent.
Forbes pointed out that at first, Trump stated that he was cooperating with authorities on the investigation. When the FBI found classified documents in Mar-a-Lago that debunked that claim, he argued that the FBI acted inappropriately despite the warrant. This soon evolved to him arguing that he had a standing order to declassify any documents he brought with him out of the White House, an argument legal experts say would not stand in court as proper channels needed to be accessed to declassify them.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Reports: Donald Trump discussed US nuclear subs with foreign nationals - Sky News Australia