Trump is ‘toast’ if classified records case is proven, former attorney general says

Trump is expected to appear in court in Miami on Tuesday. Charges include the wilful retention of highly sensitive national defence records under the Espionage Act

Former US Attorney General William Barr said: ‘I was shocked by the degree of sensitivity of these documents … If even half of it is true, then he’s toast’

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Donald Trump smiles as he arrives on stage to speak during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention on Saturday. Photo: AP

Published: 5:37am, 12 Jun 2023Updated: 8:16am, 12 Jun 2023

Former US attorney general William Barr on Sunday defended Special Counsel Jack Smith’s 37-count indictment against former US president Donald Trump on Sunday, saying if the allegations the former president wilfully retained hundreds of highly classified documents are proven true, then “he’s toast”.

“I was shocked by the degree of sensitivity of these documents and how many there were, … and I think the counts under the Espionage Act that he wilfully retained those documents are solid counts,” Barr, who served under Trump, told Fox News Sunday.

“If even half of it is true, then he’s toast.”

The comments from Barr, who was Trump’s attorney general from February of 2019 until December of 2020, are notable and were made at a time when many other prominent Republicans have been hesitant to criticise the former president and current Republican front-runner in the 2024 White House race.

Trump responded to Barr’s comments with criticism and insults. Describing Barr as a “lazy” and “weak” attorney general, Trump on his social media platform Truth Social said he only made the comments because he was disgruntled and that they were misinformation. “Turn off Fox News when that ‘Gutless Pig’ is on,” Trump said.

The former president is expected to appear in a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday to make his initial appearance on the charges, which include the wilful retention of highly sensitive national defence records under the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice, making false statements, conspiracy and concealment.