Donald Trump is denying reports he leaked sensitive information to Australian businessman Anthony Pratt, a Mar-a-Lago member who claims the ex-president had a penchant for disclosing secret information about U.S. submarines and relations with Iraq and Ukraine.
Mr. Pratt, who is of interest to special counsel Jack Smith as he investigates classified documents found at Mr. Trump’s Florida estate, previously said that Mr. Trump talked to him about nuclear submarines.
A fresh story from The New York Times cites newly obtained audio in which Mr. Pratt says Mr. Trump spoke to him about calls with Iraq’s leader and allegedly the 2019 call Mr. Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that led to the former U.S. leader’s first impeachment.
“The Failing New York Times story, leaked by Deranged Jack Smith and the Biden ’Political Opponent Abuser’ DOJ, about a red haired weirdo from Australia, named Anthony Pratt, is Fake News,” Mr. Trump wrote late Sunday on Truth Social. “I never spoke to him about Submarines, but I did speak to him about creating jobs in Ohio and Pennsylvania, because that’s what I’m all about.”
Mr. Trump also said reporters did not reach out to him for comment, although the Times story includes a statement from Mr. Trump, saying of Mr. Pratt: “He’s a member of the most successful club in the country, Mar-a-Lago, and from a friendly country in Australia, one of our great allies. I don’t know him well but he seemed like a nice person. He built a factory in Ohio and created American jobs, which I’m in favor of.”
The latest story is based on audio from a joint investigation by the Australian “60 Minutes,” The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. It was then obtained by the Times.
“It hadn’t even been on the news yet and he [Mr. Trump] said, ’So I just bombed Iraq today,’” Mr. Pratt said in some of the audio.
Mr. Pratt also appeared in the audio to refer to the Zelenskyy call in which Mr. Trump seemed to tie U.S. aid to efforts to dig up dirt on Joseph R. Biden, his expected opponent in the 2020 election.
“Trump said, ’You know that Ukraine phone call? That was nothing compared to what I usually do.’ He said, ’that Ukraine phone call, that’s nothing compared to what we usually talk about,’” Mr. Pratt said in the audio.
Mr. Pratt also described Mr. Trump as “outrageous,” with rhetorical habits akin to a mafia leader, knowing “exactly what to say — and what not to say — so that he avoids jail. But gets so close to it that it looks to everyone like he’s breaking the law.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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