Trump Denies Ordering Deletion of Mar-a-Lago Security Video, Offers to Testify
Former President Donald Trump denied allegations that he ordered a Mar-a-Lago staffer to delete security video central to an investigation
Nik Richie
Former President Donald Trump denied allegations that he ordered a Mar-a-Lago staffer to delete security video central to an investigation into the mishandling of classified documents during an interview with “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker.
“That’s false,” Trump stated firmly.
Pressed by Welker about whether he would testify to this under oath, Trump responded, “Sure, I’m going to — I’ll testify.”
“But more importantly, the tapes weren’t deleted,” he added. “In other words, there was nothing done to them. And they were my tapes. I could have fought them. I didn’t even have to give them the tapes, I don’t think.”
The interview, conducted by Kristen Welker in her debut as “Meet the Press” moderator, is scheduled to air on Sunday on NBC affiliates nationwide. NBC News has also extended an invitation to President Joe Biden to participate in an interview with Welker.
The allegation formed the basis of a superseding indictment filed in late July against Trump, his valet Walt Nauta, and Mar-a-Lago maintenance supervisor Carlos De Oliveira. This followed a federal grand jury indictment against Trump in June on seven criminal charges related to his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House (Nauta was also charged then).
In the superseding indictment, prosecutors alleged that Nauta and De Oliveira instructed an unnamed third staffer to delete security video after investigators issued a subpoena ordering the tapes’ release. Nauta and De Oliveira, both charged with obstruction of justice, allegedly told the third staff member that “the boss” had requested the security video deletion.
All three, Nauta, De Oliveira, and Trump, have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have never claimed that the video was deleted.
“I think I would have won in court,” Trump told Welker. “When they asked for the tapes, I said, ‘Sure.’ They’re my tapes. I could have fought them. I didn’t even have to give them. Just so you understand, though, we didn’t delete anything. Nothing was deleted.”