What is the GOP thinking?
In a recent interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) expressed his opinion on the issue of former President Trump keeping classified documents at his Florida residence after leaving the White House. Bacon emphasized that individuals do not have the right to take top-secret information home and cited his extensive experience with such information throughout his military and congressional career.
According to The Hill, Bacon stressed the importance of safeguarding sensitive materials, stating that disclosing attack plans on Iran or revealing details about nuclear technology and intelligence resources would be highly inappropriate. He argued that when the government requests the return of classified documents, it is crucial to comply. Failure to do so and denying their possession, only to be found with them later, would constitute criminal actions.
The Nebraska lawmaker’s comments came in response to a video clip of Trump at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s conference, where Trump wrongly claimed that a president has the absolute right to keep or return documents as desired, including the option to communicate with the National Archives and Records Administration. Trump currently faces 37 criminal charges for allegedly retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence and resisting the government’s attempts to retrieve them. He has pleaded not guilty.
When asked why many Republicans continue to support Trump regarding the classified materials, Bacon suggested that they may be comparing the situation to the cases involving Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, and President Biden. However, Bacon clarified that these situations differ significantly since both Pence and Biden promptly returned the documents when requested by the government.
Bacon also alluded to potential concerns or perceived inconsistencies among Republicans regarding former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s investigation into her use of a private email server while in office. He acknowledged that while there may be parallels, it is essential not to justify one wrongdoing with another. Bacon emphasized the significance of upholding the rule of law and the core principles that have traditionally strengthened the Republican Party. Straying from these principles would weaken the party in the long run, he cautioned.