When it comes to classified docs, Trump and the DOJ, Rounds wants it both ways

The federal indictment of former President Donald Trump has elicited a variety of responses from members of the Republican Party. Sen. Mike Rounds has decided to straddle the fence on this one. If he straddles it much harder, he’ll get splinters. 

After Trump’s indictment, Rounds put out a statement, the gist of which is that classified documents need to be protected, but the former president’s indictment for walking off with the nation’s secrets is politically motivated. 

According to Rounds, the news of another indictment against the former president calls into question the integrity of the nation’s justice system. He goes on to say: “As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I receive classified briefings multiple times per week. It is unacceptable that sensitive information, which could undermine our national strategy and security, has been treated so carelessly by current and former members of the executive branch.”

That last bit about “current and former members of the executive branch” is likely a swipe at President Joe Biden and maybe even former Vice President Mike Pence, both of whom were found to have had classified documents among their papers. Rounds’ comparison is an apples and oranges situation as Biden and Pence quickly called the National Archives to come and get the mislaid papers. Trump took box upon box of national secrets, displaying all the worst tendencies of a hoarder. 

It’s apparent from Rounds’ statement that he understands the importance of the correct handling of sensitive information. Read between the lines and it’s easy to conclude that there are no boxes of classified documents stacked up in the bathroom at the senator’s house. He knows better. 

Since he knows better, it’s troubling when he says: “The unprecedented action of indicting in federal court a former president, who is also a current candidate for president, cannot be taken lightly as it is inherently political and will have a lasting impact on our nation.” So much for the notion that no one is above the law.

Follow the senator’s logic and presidential candidates and former presidents should get a free pass from prosecution if it looks like they broke a federal law. Admittedly, it does make this nation look a bit like a banana republic when the government goes after the leading presidential candidate in the opposition party. However, that characterization could have easily been avoided if Trump had given back the documents he walked off with rather than using them as an excuse to pick a fight with the Department of Justice.

Rounds’ insistence in tying himself in rhetorical knots over this indictment is baffling given the fact that he is far from Trump’s favorite person. Rounds earned the former president’s ire when he was one of the first senators to declare that the 2020 election was fair and that Biden won. In this election cycle, Rounds was the first senator to endorse a presidential candidate that wasn’t Donald Trump, throwing his support to the long shot candidacy of Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. 

What’s troubling about Rounds’ statement is that he obviously knows that classified documents have to be protected. He proves that every time he has a classified briefing and doesn’t stuff his briefcase with secrets. For some reason, Rounds is determined to label Trump’s indictment as a political ploy when it’s obvious Trump had the documents in his possession and refused to give them back, consequently breaking federal laws. 

Not all of Rounds’ congressional colleagues felt compelled to release a statement after the federal indictment was released. Maybe some stayed silent because they’re intimidated by the former president. Maybe others took the time to read the indictment and, realizing how much trouble Trump’s in, decided that discretion was the better part of valor. Maybe that would have been the wiser course of action for Rounds and the least likely to result in a bunch of splinters where he sits.