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The Espionage Act and the Presidential Records Act
The Reactionary ^ | 6/16/23 | Shipwrecked Crew

Posted on 06/16/2023 8:50:10 AM PDT by CFW

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To: euram

“They didn’t do that for Trump. I suspect they were setting him up for the “documents hoax”.”


I think you are correct. They were/are planning ahead with several plots to get Trump whether they eventually use them all or not. This was just one. NARA refused to assist with the sorting of documents and then went after Trump for the ones he didn’t provide. Even though he originally had no idea the NARA categorized them as “Presidential records”. He thought they were his “personal” papers.

The “Trump exception” to all laws, rules, and regulations has gotten way out of hand.


21 posted on 06/16/2023 11:11:48 AM PDT by CFW (old and retired)
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To: CFW

“(e) Whoever having unauthorized possession of...”

“or willfully retains the same and fails to deliver it to the officer or employee of the United entitled to receive it...”

Authorized, unauthorized, that is the question.

Trump’s primary defense is that he had authorized possession of all the materials listed in the indictment. This is a question of LAW, for the judge, and appeal courts all the way to SCOTUS to decide before the case can proceed. Once that question has been determined, the case should be dismissed. If it is not dismissed on the questions of law, Trump is toast on the question of physical possession, unless jurors nullify this political persecution.

There are two prerequisites to “willfully retaining unauthorized materials.” First, Trump would have to possess materials that he is indeed not unauthorized to possess. (That is an unclear matter of law).

Second, Trump must have believed that he was not authorized to possess the materials. If Trump believed his possession of the materials named in the indictment was “authorized” under the Constitution and Constitutionally valid law, he cannot have formed the will to retain “unauthorized” materials he did not believe he possessed.

He can form the will to retain what he believes he is Constitutionally and legally entitled to retain. So long as Trump maintains that he had a right to retain the materials, he cannot be in violation of this statute.

Smith has filed a case against a former President who is a leading candidate for nomination and reelection. You would think such an extreme action would only be brought when the law is clear and there is some sort of actual danger. All Smith has is a very shaky legal interpretation. If the law on this is open to interpretation Trump’s way, it is an outrageous abuse for any case to be brought.


22 posted on 06/16/2023 11:27:14 AM PDT by Chewbarkah
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To: Political Junkie Too

Right on the Brian Boitano PJ.


23 posted on 06/16/2023 11:39:20 AM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: kvanbrunt2

“And the jury can acquit simply because they or one of them believes the law is being misapplied or abused no matter what judge/lawyers say.”


And that is what worries them about the case being in Florida rather than in D.C. where the jury is sure to be stacked with Trump-hating Democrats only.


24 posted on 06/16/2023 11:51:32 AM PDT by CFW (old and retired)
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To: Chewbarkah

Jack Smith is a hit man & his job is to “take out” the 45th President.


25 posted on 06/16/2023 11:53:54 AM PDT by unclebankster ( Globalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel)
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To: unclebankster

Heck yeah. He was picked because he’s happy to be a scoundrel.

I want the case thrown out and Jack Smith humiliated on questions of law BEFORE a jury is even selected.


26 posted on 06/16/2023 1:02:35 PM PDT by Chewbarkah
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To: 17th Miss Regt

> Reasonable Suspicion.

aha, thanks!


27 posted on 06/16/2023 5:34:25 PM PDT by SteveH
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