Trump recounts content of conversations with Zelenskyy to Australian billionaire
Former US President Donald Trump, while occupying the office at the White House, appears to have shared confidential information with Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt about conversations with foreign leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Source: The New York Times and 60 Minutes Australia with reference to Pratt's private records
Details: The media published previously unknown recordings in which Pratt openly recollects his conversations with Trump. They echo the accusations that Trump mishandled classified information while in office.
In the recordings, Pratt says that Trump shared with him insider information about his phone calls with world leaders during his presidency.
The recordings indicate that Trump spoke to Pratt about his infamous phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in September 2019.
During this conversation, Trump pressured Zelenskyy to help him launch baseless corruption investigations against Joe Biden. This phone call formed the basis of Trump's first impeachment.
"That was nothing compared to what I usually do... It's nothing compared to what we normally talk about," Trump commented to Pratt about the conversation with Zelensky.
Pratt also mentioned Trump's description of his conversation with Iraqi President Barham Salih in December 2019. According to Pratt, Trump said: "The president of Iraq called me and said: 'You just levelled my city to the ground'. ... I said to him, 'Okay, what are you going to do about it?’
Background:
- CNN reported earlier that Pratt was interviewed by special counsel Jack Smith, who accused Trump of mishandling national security materials, as the former White House chief of staff kept dozens of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
- Pratt is also on Smith's witness list for the trial, which is scheduled for May.
- Concerns about Trump's loose approach to state secrets are at the centre of the case. Trump also reportedly discussed potentially sensitive information about US nuclear submarines with Pratt.
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