'You are well aware': CNN host debunks ex-Trump lawyer's docs argument live on air

Former President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer Jim Trusty attempted to defend his former client's actions in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case on CNN Thursday — a discussion that came shortly after Trump's latest bid to dismiss that case was denied — but was swiftly backed into a corner as anchor Brianna Keilar dismantled his arguments.

"[Special counsel] Jack Smith says this theory [that he could keep the documents] came out, not from the lawyer, but from the head of Judicial Watch, which is a right-wing activist group," said Keilar. "If it was something that Trump really believed or that his legal team really believed — because one of his employees said to Judicial Watch, they did not believe that this was correct analysis —why wouldn't Trump have put it out there?"

"See, I don't accept the paradigm, I guess is the problem," said Trusty. "What Jack Smith wants this court to believe is that if you're a former president, you have to announce for all time to everyone on the day you leave office, these are the documents that I possess. I'm deeming these ones personal and these other ones I'll talk to Archives about turning over as presidential. That's just a false narrative. The false models, classified documents, you do actually have to do that though well, not under the Presidential Records Act to executive order that's accepted and it's—"

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"I mean, it's very clear, it's just legalistic and a to-do list of what you do to declassify and Trump did not pursue that," said Keilar. "You are well aware."

"Well, declassification is different than the PRA, but let me just say this," said Trusty. "We've said from the beginning that the real problem here is document management. We can trust our presidents and former presidents with secrets. We don't, like, wipe their brain clean and say you can't remember all the things you learned in your four or eight years in office. So the idea that they'd have access or knowledge of these things is something we live with as a society."

"I think the issue is more sending the documents some place where they're not secure," Keilar challenged.

"Like the garage in Delaware, right?" shot back Trusty, referring to stray classified documents found in President Joe Biden's belongings.

"Obviously that's not okay, right?" said Keilar.

"Well, maybe it is, maybe it isn't," said Trusty. "I don't see a prosecution coming."

"Bathroom in Mar-a-Lago, a garage in Delaware, okay, those were turned back in, as you are aware of," said Keilar.

Watch the video below or at the link here.

Brianna Keilar and Jim Trusty spar over Mar-a-Lago casewww.youtube.com