Trump’s DOJ tells Trump he can hold onto government docs when he leaves office, contrary to Watergate-era law - CNN

The Trump administration's Justice Department has informed President Trump that he may retain government documents when he leaves office, a position that contradicts the Presidential Records Act, a law enacted following Watergate to ensure presidential papers are preserved as government property. The determination represents a significant legal shift from decades of precedent requiring outgoing presidents to transfer all official records to the National Archives. This stance is particularly notable given Trump's prior indictment on charges related to his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after his first term ended in 2021. The legal position could reshape how presidential records are treated and raises questions about accountability mechanisms for document retention by sitting or former presidents. The development comes as Trump begins his second term following his January 2025 inauguration.