Donald Trump’s Property In Bedminster, New Jersey, Is A New Site Of Interest For Investigators

Donald Trump’s private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, seems to have played an under-reported role in the case alleging his possession of national defense information.

Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump this month on 37 counts of willful retention of classified documents, as well as conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to FBI agents. Trump was arrested and arraigned at the Miami federal courthouse, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In an audio recording released to the public, Trump appeared to be discussing the contents of “highly confidential” plans to attack Iran with colleagues at his Bedminster club. The tape, which is from July 2021, not only indicated his handling of the documents, but his sharing of the documents with people who also did not have proper security clearance.

While the recording offered the public its first glimpse into the dealings at Bedminster, FBI officials have been investigating the property since last summer. Prosecutors claimed that Walt Nauta, a Trump aide who was also indicted earlier this month, loaded boxes onto a plane going from South Florida that “flew Trump and his family north for the summer.”

Investigators attempted to acquire surveillance footage of the Bedminster property but were denied by a judge due to lacking probable cause.

Allies of the former president have backed Trump in his claims that the recording did not prove that he possessed or shared national security information. Trump continues to assert that he did not take anything consequential from the White House

“Did I use the word ‘plans’? What I’m referring to is… plans of buildings. I had plans for buildings. You know, building plans? I had plans for a golf course,” said Trump about the recording in an interview this week.

The audio was used in Smith’s indictment as evidence of Trump’s wrongdoings. The trial for the case is set to begin as early as August 14.