WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The President-elect intends to replace the National Archivist, returning the agency to the political forefront following his indictment for mishandling classified documents.
“We will have a new archivist,” Trump stated in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday.
The agency angered Trump after it notified the Department of Justice of potential irregularities in Trump’s handling of classified materials in early 2022. This triggered an investigation that resulted in a federal indictment, making him the first former president to face federal charges.
The current archivist, [Archivist’s Name], the first woman to hold the position, was not in office at the time.
She was nominated by President [President’s Name] in August 2022 but didn’t assume office until May of the following year. This followed a dispute concerning the agency’s role in the investigation into sensitive documents seized at [Location] in Palm Beach, Florida.
The president has the authority to remove the national archivist and appoint a successor, subject to Senate confirmation; therefore, Trump’s promise isn’t unprecedented.
However, Trump has pledged to dismantle what he terms the “deep state,” a broad term encompassing the federal government, including civil servants and bureaucrats he views as antagonistic to his and broader Republican ideologies.
Upon leaving office, presidents are legally obligated to transfer most of their records to the National Archives. The indictment alleges that the National Archives, upon discovering missing documents, repeatedly requested their return from Trump.
While Trump eventually returned some documents, the indictment claims he concealed others. Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted him on charges including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements.
He has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. Prosecutors chose not to pursue charges after his November election victory, aligning with the Justice Department’s long-standing policy against indicting sitting presidents.
“`
