Trump's Hollow 'Empty Folders' Defense - FactCheck.org
Trump's Hollow 'Empty Folders' Defense - FactCheck.org
Strictly speculation here. But, what if the motive not to return the documents for so long was because of empty folders? If any of those documents were traded for favors or money, he would need to hide the evidence of the crime that carries a death sentence. Not wanting to leave behind evidence, he took as many boxes as he could to search for them later. It's possible that he could not find all of the empty folders until the FBI did. When he claimed that mostly all he took was empty folders, it may have been an unconscious projection or gaslighting revealing his motives. The article is a bit dated, but those empty folders have been mentioned recently in discussions and news about the Mar a Lago docs case, and this article shines a little extra light on that particular detail. Oddly, there is even a claim that one of these folders was used as a lampshade of sorts, in his bedroom. Why would he have one of these in his bedroom? My guess is consternation and fear.
I'm just waiting for him to slip up in an interview and admit "I couldn't return all of them, because I sold some to the Saudis"....
Nah. He'd spin it as doing a great service for the nation of Saudi Arabia and how they "Begged and pleaded" with him to sell them the documents. Of course he gladly did because he's a good guy. A great guy. Probably, no definitely best guy ever and couldn't say no.
Wouldn’t make any difference in his approval ratings among R and his campaign fundraising.
If anything it will only help his chances of getting elected
Why, in a world where photocopiers exist, would even Trump be stupid enough to remove the original documents and not immediately put them back?
Not that he's a serial rule follower, but to copy classified docs you generally need 2 people. Copy machines in areas where classified docs are stored all operate this way.
If you take them out of their storage areas that's a different story, but of anyone sees you with a classified doc on a regular old copy machine it will be immediately clear you're breaking the rules. Also classified docs must be in their cover sheets which are bright orange/red so they are easily identified, or (again) people will know you're up to no good. Outside of secure areas they're also supposed to be in a double zipped and locked courier bag so there's that.
Better than binders full of women, I guess