|
“We will have a new archivist," Trump told radio host Hugh
Hewitt on Monday.
The agency piqued Trump's ire after it alerted the Department of
Justice about potential problems with Trump’s handling of
classified documents in early 2022. That set in motion an
investigation that led to a dramatic FBI search of Trump's home
at Mar-a-Lago, which culminated in him becoming the first former
president charged with federal crimes.
The current archivist, Colleen Shogan, the first woman in the
role, wasn't in the post at that time. David Ferriero, who had
been appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009, announced in
January 2022 that he'd be retiring effective that April.
Shogan was nominated by President Joe Biden in August 2022, just
days before the FBI search at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach,
Florida. But she was not confirmed until May of the following
year, after a monthslong partisan battle over the agency’s role
in the documents investigation.
The national archivist can be removed from office by the
president, who can choose a successor who is then confirmed by
the Senate, so Trump's promise to do so is not unusual.
Still, Trump has vowed to smash what he calls the “ deep state,”
a nebulous term referring generally to the federal government,
including civil servants and bureaucrats he argues are hostile
to his ideological views and those of Republicans more broadly.
Presidents are legally required to provide most of their records
to the National Archives once they leave office. When the
National Archives realized that some documents were missing from
its collection after Trump left office, they made repeated
demands for him to return them, according to the federal
indictment.
Trump eventually turned over some of the documents but hid
others, the indictment charged. He was indicted by special
counsel Jack Smith on charges including willful retention of
national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and
false statements and representations.
He pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Prosecutors moved
to abandon the case after his Election Day victory in November.
That was consistent with long-standing Justice Department policy
that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution.
All contents © copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
