"Claire [McCaskill] correctly describes as, you know, the old-school Republicans, and maybe some are rejoining it, maybe some are newly joining it, whatever," Leonnig explained. "But there are many of them that I've spoken to who are actively rooting for Trump to go down in this indictment."
She also explained that some of the Republican lawmakers have inside information that indicates that's exactly what is about to happen.
"And for information that they have either learned from their friends who were at the White House at the time or other evidence they've learned in ways that I can't talk about here, they are citing some of that evidence amongst themselves as incredibly damaging to Donald Trump politically," said Leonnig. "
"Again, I'm just using and picking my words carefully. But to say that there is a raft of Republicans, many of whom served Donald Trump, who now are in the camp of 'I know a lot about' — I'm quoting -- I'm paraphrasing them, forgive me — 'I know a lot about what went down here.' And when it all comes out in Jack Smith's speaking indictment, which is what they're hoping for, the public will become aware of Donald Trump in a new way."
She acknowledges that such a statement has been heard before and "everybody thinks he put himself first and didn't give a hoot about the country." Still, this time could be different, she said.
The Trump investigation involves claims he kept classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago home and even talked about them to guests. A report last week claimed there was a recording of him talking about a document that involved plans to attack Iran.
Trump "was willing to put them in public view, outside of their lock and key, in order to try to harm a political enemy, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff," she explained. "And by the way, he was misusing those documents not just because they were classified but he was misdescribing what was in them. At least, that's the evidence we have right now."
Wallace asked for more details about the evidence that the so-called "insiders" know about that will be so harmful to Trump.
The alleged Iran memo from Gen. Mark Milley may not have ever existed, Leonnig said, noting that Milley briefed Trump on the numerous options available that had both pros and cons about each possible action.
"And I think there are a lot of Republicans and insiders who feel that this is emblematic of something Trump did often with classified materials," Leonnig explained. "They were of utility to him personally. And to paraphrase some of their words, 'Damn the country. Damn the country's safety. It was about what helps Donald Trump.'"
What remains to be seen is what Smith has found out about those pieces of Trump's willingness to use classified information for his own means.
See the commentary between the panelists in the video below or at the link here.
Post reporter reveals GOP Trump allies have 'incredibly damaging' in that Trump is going down
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