Date: 2025-08-20 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00021673
THE TRUMP SAGA
DESTROYING THE PAPER TRAIL
Trump flushes Maggie Haberman scoop as 'fake story'
DESTROYING THE PAPER TRAIL
Trump flushes Maggie Haberman scoop as 'fake story'
Picture of Trump wearing a MAGA hat ... Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Original article: https://www.axios.com/trump-records-national-archives-toilet-flush-9f2883a1-9a58-4f35-b7f3-a5ec48a0b433.html
Burgess COMMENTARY
Everything I see written about Trump shocks me and confirms my long held view that Trump had no business being elected as President of the United States. What this says about a governance system called democracy is not encouraging.
I think it was Prime Minister Gladstone in the UK who said a long time ago that a universal franchise ... that is everyone having a vote ... would not be good for the country. He argued that most people did not know enough to make a sound decision about who they should vote for. Gladstone did not prevail and it has become the democratic norm for everyone to get to have a vote.
Since the time of Gladstone, there have been many changes. More people are better educated and economic productivity is massively improved. While government and its leadership has increased in importance, so also have the business and financial sectors. To some extent, the vote of people in the general population has diminished in importance and the money in politics coming from business and financial interests has gained in importance.
This perhaps explains Trumps popularity and his ability to get elected. Voters liked what he said and how he said it, and the rich and powerful in business and finance liked where he stood on economic matters. Much of this support still exists, though an increasing number of people realize that he is essentially incompetent when it comes to actually being in charge of things.
The last 15 months or so since he lost the election reminds me more of a 3 year old throwing a tantrum, than a serious leader of anything!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter Burgess
Written by Oriana Gonzalez
February 10th 2022
Former President Trump said Thursday that he was 'under no obligation' to return White House records to the National Archives and Record Administration at the end of his presidential term.
Driving the news: Trump also denied that he destroyed or flushed 'papers and documents down a White House toilet.'
Reports show that during his presidency, Trump was known to destroy or restrict access to official presidential records.
While President Trump was in office, staff in the White House residence periodically discovered wads of printed paper clogging a toilet, per Maggie Haberman's forthcoming book 'Confidence Man.'
Catch up fast: NARA last month recovered 15 boxes containing information from Trump's time at the White House that he took to Mar-a-Lago instead of handing over to the agency.
NARA said also that Trump representatives have informed the agency that 'they are continuing to search for additional presidential records that belong to the National Archives.' What they're saying: 'The papers were given easily and without conflict and on a very friendly basis,' Trump said. 'In fact, it was viewed as routine and 'no big deal.''
'In actuality, I have been told I was under no obligation to give this material based on various legal rulings that have been made over the years,' Trump said, but did not specify which rulings allow him to do so.
'Also, another fake story, that I flushed papers and documents down a White House toilet, is categorically untrue and simply made up by a reporter in order to get publicity for a mostly fictitious book.'He said that some of the information given to NARA would 'someday be displayed in the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library.'
Reality check: Under the Presidential Records Act, a president is required to immediately turn in presidential records to the national archivist as soon as they leave office.
'Removing or concealing government records is a criminal offense punishable by up to three years in prison,' according to the House Oversight Committee.
Editor's note: This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.