In a fiery exchange on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sparred with host Dana Bash over the recent federal indictment of former President Trump concerning his handling of classified documents.
The Republican representative vehemently claimed that the charge was politically motivated, suggesting a sustained pattern of persecution against the former President.
"This is as political as it gets. And, frankly, Dana, it's part of a pattern," Jordan argued, his voice filled with conviction. He further noted, "We have seen it time and time again with the President over the last seven years. They try one thing. Then they try another. They have continued to go after him. And I think anyone with common sense can see that."
Throughout the interview, Jordan held firm to a legal standard established in the Navy v. Egan case, a decision issued by Justice Harry Blackmun, a Nixon appointee. Jordan, seemingly unperturbed by Bash's evident irritation, held, "The president's ability to classify and control access to national security information flows from the Constitution. He decides. He alone decides. He said he declassified this material. He can put it wherever he wants. He can handle it however he wants. That's the law."
Bash, countering with the facts from the indictment, underscored that the Secret Service was unaware of several boxes of documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. This prompted her to question the authenticity of Trump's claims about declassifying these documents.
The interview took an exciting turn when Bash and Jordan entered a debate over a controversial recording of a July 2021 conversation at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The indictment alleges that during this conversation, Trump shared a "plan of attack," devised by a senior military official, with individuals who lacked the necessary security clearance.
On the recording, Trump is said to have labeled the plan "highly confidential" and "secret." He further purportedly stated, "as president I could have declassified it," and, "Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret."
Bash argued that this statement confirmed the material had not been declassified. On the other hand, Jordan emphasized the subtlety between Trump's expressing that he could declassify it and his stating that he did. Bash found the distinction Jordan drew lacking logical clarity, retorting, "What you're saying just doesn't make sense on its face."
To redirect the conversation, Bash quizzed Jordan on the obstruction charges that formed part of the indictment. Jordan, however, remained undeterred and countered that obstruction implies an underlying crime, which, in his view, was nonexistent in this case.
Their disagreement lasted over fifteen minutes, with neither party showing signs of retreating from their position. Amid these heated debates and varying interpretations of the law, former President Trump is slated to appear at a federal courthouse in Miami this Tuesday for his arraignment.
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