NZ spy agencies dodge questions about Donald Trump’s classified material

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Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to the removal of classified documents and lying about it. Photo: AFP

New Zealand’s spy agencies are refusing to comment on Five Eyes classified documents seized in the case against Donald Trump.

The indictment against the former US president contains photos of documents spilled on the floor at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

A handout photo from the US Department of Justice shows some of the material spilled on the floor at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Photo: AFP

New Zealand is a member alongside the US of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group.

“One of the most striking images in the document is a photo of a box of top-secret national security documents that in 2021 spilled onto the floor of a Mar-a-Lago storage room that was- access by many of the resort’s employees,” the New York Times reported.

“The files are marked with strict ‘five-eye’ classification marks, indicating that they can only be viewed by officials with top security clearances issued by the United States and those closest to its ally.”

Asked if they had any concerns that security might have been breached, local spy agencies were forthcoming.

“This is not an NZIC thing [New Zealand intelligence community] will comment,” agencies told RNZ.

“Any questions related to the indictment should be referred to the authorities in the appropriate jurisdiction in the United States.”

In Australia, another member of the Five Eyes, Foreign Minister Penny Wong there was also questioned by local media last month but said it was for the US to deal with.

Last month, Trump pleaded not guilty to federal criminal charges that he withheld national security documents when he left office and lied to officials who sought to recover them.

Trump’s plea, entered before US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman in a federal court in Miami, sets up a legal battle that is likely to play out in the coming months as he campaigns to win reelection. presidency in the November 2024 election. Experts say it could be a year or more before a trial takes place.

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