Trump says Mar-a-Lago security tapes were not deleted, were voluntarily given to prosecutors

He called the allegations election interference and said it was the result of prosecutorial misconduct.

Published: July 30, 2023 2:08pm

Former President Donald Trump said on Sunday he did not delete the Mar-a-Lago security tapes, even as he faces new charges of allegedly conspiring to delete the footage, which he said he handed over to prosecutors.

"MAR-A-LAGO SECURITY TAPES WERE NOT DELETED. THEY WERE VOLUNTARILY HANDED OVER TO THE THUGS, HEADED UP BY DERANGED JACK SMITH," Trump posted on Truth Social in all capital letters. "WE DID NOT EVEN GO TO COURT TO STOP THEM FROM GETTING THESE TAPES. I NEVER TOLD ANYBODY TO DELETE THEM."

The new charges brought against Trump on Thursday came in addition to the 37 federal counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. The former president pleaded not guilty to all 37 original charges.

Special counsel Jack Smith is separately pursuing a probe into Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 election results and his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

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