The boxes included “a lot of classified records,” mixed in with newspaper clippings, personal records and other unimportant papers. Some of the “presidential records” had been torn up, which Trump was known to do when he was finished with a paper. But if someone tears up any official document, that violates a federal law that prohibits concealing, removing or “mutilating” documents.
Trump’s laissez-faire manner of handling documents was apparent even before he left the presidency. He would tear up papers to signal a discussion was over, or famously flush notes down the toilet. Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton,
told Reuters recently that Trump would keep “piles and piles” of documents inside the White House dining room.