Reacting to a claim by a former Department of Homeland Security official that Donald Trump shared secret documents related to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi with reporters, former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade suggested special counsel Jack Smith has one more charge he can use to bolster his case against the former president under the Espionage Act.
Speaking with MSNBC host Katie Phang, McQuade was asked about the NBC report based on a book by Miles Taylor, a top aide to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, about Trump's mishandling of documents that alarmed Trump's then-national security adviser John Bolton.
"NBC is releasing exclusive reporting about ex-Trump aide Miles Taylor in which Miles alleges in 2018, Trump's press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, described an incident with Trump displaying to reporters classified documents related to journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death."
"Do you think Jack Smith has already had a lead on this? I mean, we keep on hearing these things pop up here and there. We saw in the indictment about Bedminster and the writing of a book, and journalists being present, even a PAC person like Susie Wiles. I mean, is this the kind of stuff we think Jack Smith would have a bead on it already?"
"He might, Katie," the attorney replied. "It could be valuable as what you know is 404(b) evidence; that is evidence of the person's common scheme or plan."
"And so, even if he doesn't charge it, you can use that as evidence to show that Trump is very reckless when he handles classified information. So, every piece of evidence brings value," she added.
Watch below.
MSNBC 07 08 2023 08 27 57youtu.be
