now the magats are saying......

[getagrip_already]

that trump declassified all of those docs prior to leaving the wh, so it is perfectly acceptable for him to have them now.

It's all bs since there is no paper trail supporting that.

Unfortunately for them, even if he had properly declassified them, the docs can be reclassified at any time. Not returning currently classified doc's is as bad as taking them in the first place. Even for nonclassified docs, they are still gov't property he has no right to.

At least they are using a little imagination......

[Phoenix61]

1. It doesn't matter if they are classified or not.

They were to be turned over to the National Archives and they weren’t.

[GoCubsGo]

3. They also can't just be taken home, regardless.

He basically stole them, and has mishandled government documents. Not that I believe his BS.

[JohnSJ]

5. Exactly. They are missing the point as usual

[Woodswalker]

2. Magats are just pulling straws out of a hat now and saying

whatever. Garland would not have taken this step if there were any chance of it being a goose egg. No way, No how. There's something there and it will be Mango Mussolini's undoing

[SledDriver]

4. It doesn't work that way

[Irish_Dem]

6. I think there is more to it than just having a classified document in his possession.

There must be some sort of criminal activity or possible serious threat.

Trump didn't have nothing burgers in his safe.

[usonian]

7. JFK had to hand over Cuban cigars.

TFG can hand over whatever he plundered.

But didn't.

[zuul]

8. There is a process to declassify them, which he didn't do.

And even if they were properly declassified, no one can just steal them. They belong to the public and must be mainained by NARA.

[Runningdawg]

9. If docs were declassified it was with a sharpie-nothing more.

[lanlady]

10. They think Trump wove a magic wand and poof! made all those pesky classification banners disappear

Yes, the president has broad powers to declassify. But there is a process. From what that Trump lackey Kash Patel said recently, the declass paperwork wasn't completed. He blamed White House lawyers, natch.

And, I'm sure DOJ lawyers went over the regs very carefully. They wouldn't execute a raid only to find out they weren't on firm ground with regard to presidential prerogatives.

They know very well that whatever is in that safe has no business being there.

[SharonClark]

12. Well said.

[C_U_L8R]

11. Classified or not, they are stolen.

None of it belongs to him.