Staff Reports
In a shocking turn of events, former President Donald Trump has been accused of discussing sensitive information regarding U.S. nuclear submarines with an Australian member of his Mar-a-Lago club. This allegation was brought to the attention of special counsel Jack Smith, who is currently investigating Mr. Trump’s handling of classified information.
According to an ABC News report, the alleged disclosure took place months after Mr. Trump left office, with Australian businessman Anthony Pratt being the recipient. It is claimed that Mr. Pratt then proceeded to share this sensitive information with numerous individuals, including journalists, company employees, Australian officials, and even former Australian prime ministers.
During a conversation at the Florida club in April 2021, it is reported that Mr. Pratt suggested Australia should purchase submarines from the U.S., which prompted Mr. Trump to lean in and divulge “the supposed exact number of nuclear warheads they routinely carry, and exactly how close they supposedly can get to a Russian submarine without being detected.”
https://twitter.com/rifaldi1st/status/1710277660075802721
In light of these allegations, special counsel Jack Smith has launched an investigation and has conducted interviews with Mr. Pratt to gather more information. It remains unclear whether the information provided by Mr. Trump was accurate, but investigators have urged Mr. Pratt to refrain from repeating the figures.
This new development adds further intrigue to the ongoing federal case against Mr. Trump in Florida, where he is facing a trial in May on 40 criminal counts, including willful retention of national defense information and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Mr. Trump’s attorneys have recently requested a delay in the trial until at least mid-November 2024, citing the upcoming presidential election and their client’s status as the front-runner in the GOP primary race.
As the investigation unfolds, many are left wondering about the potential implications of Mr. Trump’s alleged disclosure of classified information. The Washington Times has reached out to a Trump spokesman for comment on the ABC News story, but no response has been provided yet. Meanwhile, Democrats are quick to highlight the double standard that would be applied if a Democrat were accused of similar actions, with Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., a New Jersey Democrat, remarking, “If a Democrat did this, every Republican in Congress would be screaming treason on Fox News.” The political fallout from this revelation is sure to be significant, and the ramifications could extend well beyond the ongoing trial. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
