Skip to main content
Advertisement

White House Defends Trump Amid 2022 Classified Map Disclosure Claims

The White House defends Donald Trump amid reports he showed a classified map on a 2022 flight. Investigation details emerge, alongside updates on Middle East violence, Florida elections, DHS funding, and political remarks.

·4 min read
Jamie Raskin gestures as he sits at a desk during a policy meeting at the Capitol in February

White House Defends Trump Amid Classified Map Allegations

Welcome to the US politics live blog.

The White House has stated that former President Donald Trump "did nothing wrong" following reports that he displayed a classified map during a 2022 flight to his New Jersey golf club.

Additionally, Trump reportedly retained a record from his first term that was highly sensitive, with access limited to only six individuals, according to a letter released on Wednesday by Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

The letter contributes to the public understanding of the ongoing investigation into Trump's retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

It cites a newly disclosed Department of Justice memo from January 2023, in which prosecutors referenced evidence they had gathered as they prepared for a felony indictment against Trump that was filed months later.

In response to Raskin's letter, the White House questioned his credibility.

"It’s pathetic that Democrats with zero credibility like Jamie Raskin are still clinging to deranged Jack Smith and his lies in 2026,"
said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson.

She added,

"President Trump did nothing wrong, which is why he easily defeated the Biden DOJ’s unprecedented lawfare campaign against him and then won nearly 80 million votes in a landslide election victory."

Advertisement

The incident involving the classified map was detailed in a briefing memo dated 13 January 2023, prepared for then-Attorney General Merrick Garland—approximately six months prior to special counsel Jack Smith charging Trump with retaining classified documents at his club.

According to the memo, Trump’s alleged display of the map would be the second known occasion on which he showed a classified map to Wiles. The indictment also describes a separate incident in New Jersey where Trump allegedly displayed classified information.

Middle East Violence Continues Amid US-Iran Talks

Violence persisted across much of the Middle East a day after Donald Trump stated that the US was engaged in "very good" talks with Iran aimed at ending the regional conflict soon. On Tuesday, Iranian barrages targeted Israel, Gulf Arab states, and northern Iraq, while Israeli and US warplanes conducted strikes across Tehran and other locations within the Islamic Republic. More.

Democrats Flip Florida State House Seat in Mar-a-Lago District

Democrats succeeded in flipping a seat in the Florida state house within the district that includes Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Emily Gregory, a Democrat, defeated Republican Jon Maples—who had received Trump's endorsement—in the special election for Florida’s 87th state house district. The Associated Press called the race Tuesday evening, with Gregory, a public health expert and small business owner, leading by over two percentage points. More.

Trump Swears in DHS Secretary as Senate Republicans Propose Funding Compromise

On Tuesday, Donald Trump swore in Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Concurrently, Senate Republicans introduced a compromise to resume funding for most of the agency, though it appears to exclude immigration enforcement reforms demanded by Democrats. More.

Trump Criticizes Mail-In Voting Despite Using It

Donald Trump described mail-in voting as "cheating" during an event in Memphis, Tennessee, just days after casting a mail-in ballot himself. Speaking Monday at a roundtable on his administration’s crime taskforce, he stated,

"Mail-in voting means mail-in cheating. I call it mail-in cheating, and we got to do something about it all."
More.

TSA Workers Struggle Amid DHS Shutdown and Immigration Enforcement Deployment

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers are facing challenges due to the White House’s deployment of immigration law enforcement personnel to airports, coinciding with the sixth week of unpaid work caused by the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. Since the shutdown began in February, over 400 TSA employees have resigned. Major US airports report high absenteeism among TSA staff, resulting in extended security wait times. More.

California Governor Revises Comments on Israel

California Governor Gavin Newsom retracted earlier remarks in which he likened Israel to an "apartheid state" during a new interview with Politico published Tuesday. The Democrat, widely anticipated to run for president in 2028, clarified that his previous use of the term three weeks ago was intended to describe Israel’s potential future if it continues on its current path. More.

This article was sourced from theguardian

Advertisement

Related News