NEWSCongress Opens Investigation Into Ex President Donald Trump's Handling Of White House Documents, Including Claims He 'Flushed' Papers Down The Toilet
Feb. 10 2022, Published 12:49 p.m. ET
Congress has reportedly opened an investigation into former president Donald Trump's handling of White House documents.
As reported by Daily Mail, the probe was launched on Wednesday, February 9 after the 75-year-old was accused of "removing and tearing up" official papers during his term as president.
According to the outlet, National Archives officials recovered 15 boxes of White House materials from Trump's residence in Florida last month, even though the materials should have been turned over to the agency when he left office in accordance with federal records acts.
"Removing or concealing government records is a criminal offense punishable by up to three years in prison," Congress' letter read, prompting an investigation to be opened up.
Trump denied the claims on Thursday, February 10, claiming that the transfer to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) was "openly and willingly arranged with President Trump for the transport of boxes that contained letters, records, newspapers, magazines and various articles."
"Some of this information will someday be displayed in the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library for the public to view my Administration's incredible accomplishments for the American People."
"The media's characterization of my relationship with NARA is Fake News. It was exactly the opposite! It was a great honor to work with NARA to help formally preserve the Trump Legacy," he continued, per the outlet.
Additionally, more concerns were raised about Trump's handling of official documents after a report came to light accusing the former POTUS of getting rid of papers while he was working in the White House.
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman writes in her new book, Confidence, Man: The Making Of Donald Trump And The Breaking Of America, that White House staff believed Trump was flushing papers down the toilet during his term as president.
"As I was reporting out this book, I learned that staff in White House residence would periodically find the toilet clogged," Haberman stated during an appearance on CNN's New Day on Thursday. "The engineer would have to come and fix it."
"And what the engineer would find would be wads of clumped up wet, printed paper — meaning it was not toilet paper," she explained. "It was either notes or some other piece of paper that they believe he had thrown down the toilet."
