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This is a very scary letter that straightforwardly tells Trump that his executive privilege claims are garbage, the material is highly classified, and the government needs it back. https://t.co/xSfaPeVNWx

— Andrew Fleischman (@ASFleischman) August 23, 2022

Biggest takeaway is Trump team has confirmed the former president had high-level, sensitive and restricted material at his home for many months before allowing archives access to it (archives didn't know what was there) https://t.co/ncVdLiJFLq

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 23, 2022

!! National Archives letter to Trump attorney, May 10, 2022.

First note what's missing from the exchanges

ANY CLAIM by Trump's side that he'd declassified the materials.

Full Text: https://t.co/nX4FPvU0dj

Letter was published by John Solomon
(h/t @JasonLeopold @MollyJongFast) pic.twitter.com/hxalJG1YVW

— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) August 23, 2022

3. Letter is a slam dunk on 'executive privilege.'

Citing on-point Supreme Court decision (Nixon v. GSA), the Office of Legal Counsel and NARA explained there was no legal basis whatsoever for Trump.

Plus "President Biden defers to my determination" with OLC on exec privilege.

— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) August 23, 2022

5. Critically important.

DOJ NSD to Trump, April 29 (quoted twice in letter):

Urgent need to "conduct an assessment of the potential damage resulting from the apparent manner in which these materials were stored and transported and take any necessary remedial steps."

— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) August 23, 2022

John Solomon just addressed this on Bannon's show. His explanation about why he thinks the letter helps Trump isn't very persuasive. https://t.co/BfdqArdqmg pic.twitter.com/Gx3moxe5wo

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 23, 2022

No; the current President told NARA they had authority to determine privilege decisions related to documents Trump took with him. That's called "delegating," and it was a response to a NARA request. This is clown show level stuff, unable to understand the damage they are doing, to Trump and the nation. Which, interestingly, is the message that's getting out, despite Solomon's efforts:

Confusing to assess how this letter helps Trump, which whoever gave it to Solomon seemed to think it would. Among other things, it confirms our reporting that SAP material - highly restricted information - was part of what was returned from MAL https://t.co/ZaFDNPD5Bg

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 23, 2022

NARA letter also confirms that Trump team was delaying the process, and given extensions. And it makes clear that there's no presidential privilege in a case like this https://t.co/ZaFDNPD5Bg

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 23, 2022

These guys really are as dumb as a bag of hammers. And as for Trump escaping the consequences of his actions: up until now, those consequences have been to be a lousy businessman and to lend his name (and little else) to various failed enterprises. For the first time he's actually facing criminal liability, and his response to it is always to make matters worse for himself. The DOJ will bury him in his own supporters and public statements.