A binder containing highly classified information concerning Russia and other sensitive areas went missing at the end of former President Donald Trump's time in office, CNN reported.
Some of the binder's contents are so classified that they previously were only able to be reviewed at the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, CNN reported.
Information about Russian intelligence was said to comprise a relatively small part of the binder's contents.
However, the raw intelligence on Russia was among the most sensitive classified contents, as was sources and methods that informed the government's assessment of the since discredited Russian collusion story surrounding the 2016 election, sources told CNN.
The binder also contains intelligence compiled by NATO allies.
Trump administration officials repeatedly tried to block the then-president from releasing the documents.
Trump sought to declassify the binder's contents before leaving, CNN said. A redacted copy was sent out to Republicans in Congress and different media outlets but quickly was recalled amid the efforts of White House lawyers, who demanded additional redactions.
Even the redacted copies have yet to be released.
A U.S. official familiar with the matter told CNN that the binder's whereabouts are unknown. It was not among the documents seized by the FBI agents when they searched Mar-a-Lago in August of 2022.
Newsmax reached out to a Trump spokesperson for comment from the former president and 2024 GOP presidential front-runner about the CNN report.
Senate Intelligence Committee leaders were briefed last year on the missing binder and the efforts to obtain it.
Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, claimed Meadows is in possession of the binder. Meadows denied the accusation.
"Mr. Meadows was keenly aware of and adhered to requirements for the proper handling of classified material, any such material that he handled or was in his possession has been treated accordingly and any suggestion that he is responsible for any missing binder or other classified information is flat wrong," Meadows's attorney George Terwilliger told CNN in a statement.
"Anyone and any entity suggesting that he is responsible for anything missing does not have facts and should exercise great care before making false allegations."
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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