What is the Presidential Records Act (PRA) and what does it say?
The Presidential Records Act is a federal law that governs the official records created by the President and his staff while in office. It requires the preservation of all presidential records and mandates that they be transferred to the National Archives at the end of the President's term.
Why is Trump citing the Presidential Records Act in his Mar-a-Lago defence?
Trump is citing the Presidential Records Act in his defence to argue that he has the right to keep certain records private and not turn them over to the National Archives. He claims that the Act allows him to do so.
Is the Presidential Records Act a valid defence against laws regarding classified and national defense information?
No, the Presidential Records Act does not supersede laws regarding the handling of classified and national defense information. Former US attorneys have pointed out that Trump has not been able to explain how the PRA trumps these laws.