About two weeks ago, the committee interviewed Trump’s presidential diarist. This interview was not previously reported, nor was the testimony describing a notable drop-off in information provided by Oval Office staff leading up until January 6th.
Other witnesses also said panel was much less information is divided with involved in White House record-storage in the same period of time, according to three familiar sources with investigation.
One source described how White House record-goalkeepers seemed “frozen” out” in days leading up until January 6th.
” last normal day information was sent on the 4th, ”said another source, an acquaintance with investigation. “So, starting on the 5th, the author of the diary did not receive annotated calls and entries. It was a dramatic exit. That’s all. out of ordinary”.
White House Diary Writer Usually Gets a Lot of Streams of information, including telephone logs from the switchboard, the President’s movements from the US Secret Service, and most notably, Oval Office Operations Notes detailing calls, guests, and activities.
But sources close to panelinvestigation do not seem to know yet whoif anyonesent a change in record-retention or what motivation behind this change raised questions that the lack of of information was intentional or for staffing issues.
“Hard know what was that change. Was it intentional? one the source said. “You can only track of something when you know what’s happening on. When people not share things with you, was it intentional and who solved it, I think it’s a little hazy at the moment.”
House Committee declined to comment.
CNN reached out representative for Trump never heard back. CNN has also has reached out to the National Archives for comment.
So far, the selection committee does not have detailed records of comings and goings to the Oval Office. on On January 6, they received statements that helped fill out in a little of breaks, according to a source familiar with investigation. Including calls to Trump made and received, and who It was with to him in in private dining room off Oval Office as he reportedly watched the riots unfold on a television.
President’s diary that was generated for January 6 contains scant details. It lists information from switchboard call magazines and trump public schedule but nothing but a phone call in former The President had with “unidentified person” at 11:17 And no records in a diary for approximately three hours from 13:21 to 16:03
The Presidential Documents Act states that office of the chairmanship is obliged to properly document the activities of the president. But there is practically no mechanism for coercion to ensure the law is respected. As long as there is criminal consequences for destruction of government records, there is not one that would punish failure to create them in in first place.
So far, no explanation has been given as to why the calls, which are known to have been made in in hours Trump was in Oval Office not documented in diary of the president. But at about the same time of factors could be reduced flow of information in official record.
For one, sources told CNN that early January was a chaotic time at the White House and that Trump was spending more time in accommodation and keeping less official business.
According to one former Trump official”the whole point of normal order began to break down”and somewhere in early January” cracks appeared “. people looking for another job, others were confused, and “every man for himself”, i.e. former official added.
CNN’s Pamela Brown, Gloria Borger, Ashley Semler, Kathleen Polantz and Caitlan Collins contributed to this report.
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