Trump was recorded discussing the document during the July 2021 meeting.
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers have been unable to locate a critical military document that Trump discussed on tape during a July 2021 meeting at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Federal investigators have an audio recording in which Trump admitted to keeping a sensitive military document after leaving office, sources previously told ABC News.
In the recording, which was not heard or obtained by ABC News, sources said Trump was heard attacking Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and specifically referring to a document Trump said Milley compiled. Trump has said on the record that he still has the document, and reports say the document was intended to attack Iran.
Sources told ABC News that Trump’s lawyers handed over the documents in response to a March subpoena seeking all documents and materials related to Milli and Iran, including materials containing invasion plans or maps.
In their dealings with Trump’s lawyers, special counsel Jack Smith’s investigators said they specifically wanted the document Trump mentioned in the recording, sources familiar with the matter said. But they couldn’t find it.
It’s also unclear whether Trump had the specific document with him during the July 2021 meeting. Sources said Trump indicated during the recording that he knew the document in question was classified.
The special counsel’s office declined to comment to ABC News.
According to sources, the recording was made during a meeting Trump had with former chief of staff Mark Meadows.
In a statement to ABC News, a Trump spokesperson contacted earlier this week about the recording said, “Leaks by the extreme partisans behind this political harassment are designed to inflame tensions and continue the media’s harassment of President Trump and his supporters.”
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