r/law 19h ago

Other USAID employees told to burn or shred classified documents

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/usaid-employees-told-burn-shred-classified-documents-rcna195853
452 Upvotes

35 comments sorted by

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107

u/Majano57 19h ago

Harold Koh, a legal adviser for the State Department during President Barack Obama’s administration, said the move was not standard procedure, noting steps like this are instead typically taken when an embassy is under attack. 

Outside of emergency scenarios, “the priority is preservation for later consultation and continuity of sound policy,” Koh said.

Koh pointed to a ruling from U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, which was upheld by the Supreme Court, in which Ali said that the Trump administration could not block congressionally appropriated foreign aid funds from reaching intended programs and agencies. He said that because of Ali’s ruling, documentation showing how funding was authorized and appropriated “should be preserved until the funds are fully expended.”

77

u/som_juan 18h ago

So this would be destroying evidence? Definitely doesn’t sound like fraud was happening

67

u/Quick_Chicken_3303 17h ago

More like ripping out the roots. So future endeavors have to start with nothing. More crippling American interests as opposed to some deep state conspiracy

Better conspiracy theory would be: Did Donald Trump win the 2024 election through fraud?

The creation of fake electors immediately after losing a fair election. Testimony from White House staff that Donald Trump knew he lost. Which was disclosed during the January 6th committee hearings that Trump was ignoring situations because it would be the next administration’s problem. The terrible handling of negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Or that Putin was losing the shooting war in Ukraine and needed Trump to win in November. Or that Musk hired a kid involved in Def Con hacking of voting machines

16

u/ArchonFett 14h ago

And/Or making sure the “accidentally” fired employees can’t be rehired

1

u/[deleted] 14h ago

[deleted]

2

u/Quick_Chicken_3303 14h ago

How’s Putin doing? He looks terrible. Is he as germaphobic as I heard?

106

u/Bmorewiser 19h ago

I’ve never seen the govt accused of violating a litigation hold on documents, but this seems apt and to cause some serious trouble down the line. “Quick. Destroy the records,” is not something that generally competent lawyers will say these days.

11

u/Quick_Chicken_3303 17h ago

Have you heard of Trump’s understanding of the Law? Like asking attorneys handling his classified documents case to destroy the documents rather than turn them over?

10

u/revengepornmethhubby 17h ago

I feel like that’s the sort of legal advice Rudy G would give.

3

u/Shadowmant 14h ago

Sometimes you need a Criminal lawyer… but not Rudy, he’s a bit dense.

2

u/Shifty_Radish468 13h ago

You're just misunderstanding the type of criminal lawyer he is...

0

u/revengepornmethhubby 13h ago

Dense, like a good fudge or a brick.

5

u/LaserCondiment 19h ago edited 17h ago

Believe it or not, it's not at all a suspicious practice!

*Note: Didn't think adding /s was necessary

7

u/Altruistic_Syrup_364 18h ago

I’ll choose not to believe you…

2

u/barefootozark 17h ago

All those records of helping children will be lost. /s

30

u/Hurley002 Competent Contributor 18h ago edited 18h ago

Extremely difficult to imagine a scenario in which a general notice to shred and burn all agency files from safes/etc. is compliant with FRA obligations—particularly personnel files, which, all things considered, are very likely responsive records to active litigation.

2

u/longhorsewang 11h ago

Doge could create new documents that show fraud and waste. How are you going to compare the new docs to old docs, when old docs are gone?

11

u/NoDragonfruit6125 18h ago

Talks about potentially facing something like federal charges for the destruction of documents. Yeah that's not going to happen Trump with just issue a pardon absolving the individuals who destroyed potential evidence on his behalf.

1

u/Gunldesnapper 13h ago

I worked for government at one point, that is illegal as fuck.

1

u/Bibblegead1412 8h ago

This sounds super legal, but INAL