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PROGRAMMING ALERT: Tune into the Fox News Channel at 6 p.m. ET to see Bret Baier’s full interview with Trump
Former President Trump defended his storage of classified documents AND vowed to continue pursuing the 2024 Republican nomination despite his legal woes in his first TV interview since being indicted on 37 federal charges earlier this month.
The former president sat down with Fox News’ Bret Baier for an extended exclusive interview that will air in two segments on “Special Report” on Monday and Tuesday. Baier told his colleague Martha MacCallum in “The Story” that the interview covers almost “every question you could ask the former president.”
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In clips leading up to the interview, Trump defended his reluctance to turn over the documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, taking aim at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) when he was questioned by Baier on details of the indictment. printed.
“The only way NARA could ever get this stuff back would be (to say) please, please, please can we get it back,” Trump said.
“They did ask for it,” replied the Fox News host.
“No, we were talking,” Trump interrupted.
“They said can you return the documents and then they went to the DOJ to subpoena you to return the documents,” Baier replied.
Trump noted that they have “never” taken that action with a former president before.
“Then why don’t you just hand them over?” Baier pressed.
“Because I had boxes. I want to go through the boxes and get my personal stuff out. I don’t want to hand that over to NARA just yet. And I was very busy, as you saw,” he said.
Baier said Trump ordered his aide to move the documents to other locations, according to the indictment, despite insisting he had fully complied with the subpoena, “when you had not.”
Trump said he refused to send the boxes to NARA until he had time to “get his stuff out.”
“Before I send boxes, I have to get my stuff out,” he told Baier. “These boxes were interspersed with all sorts of things.”
Earlier this month, the former president was indicted on 37 federal charges, including willful withholding of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements. He has pleaded not guilty.
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Watch part one of the exclusive interview in Special Report on Monday, June 19 at 6:00 PM ET.
Yael Halon is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to yael.halon@fox.com.
