One week following President Trump’s dismissal of the head of the National Archives and Records Administration, the deputy archivist has signaled to colleagues his plans to retire, a source familiar with the situation disclosed to CBS News on Friday.
William “Jay” Bosanko was serving as chief operating officer for the National Archives when the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, aiming to retrieve boxes of Trump records, including classified materials, which the agency claimed were not properly transferred to the Archives at the conclusion of Mr. Trump’s first term.
In June 2023, Mr. Trump was federally indicted in connection with the case, but after a lengthy legal battle, the charges were officially dropped earlier this week. Mr. Trump has consistently criticized the National Archives since the case emerged.
Bosanko was also in his role when it was revealed in January 2023 that classified documents were discovered at then-President Joe Biden’s Delaware residence as well as at the Penn Biden Center. However, no criminal charges arose from that investigation.
Having worked with the National Archives since 1993, Bosanko has been the deputy archivist since December 2023, overseeing the agency’s daily operations.
“When an individual controls the records, they control the narrative,” Bosanko stated in a “60 Minutes” interview last September. “They dictate what the American public can learn or not learn about their presidency.”
He also shared his thoughts on the repercussions when presidential records are not handed over at the end of an administration.
“This impacts the essence of the historical record, its completeness, and the capacity to comprehend decision-making,” Bosanko remarked. “It’s crucial for historians, and ultimately for the American populace, to grasp all facets that influenced those decisions.”
On February 7, the White House revealed that it had terminated National Archivist Collen Shogan, the leading record keeper in the nation, appointing Secretary of State Marco Rubio as her interim successor.
Bosanko, in his role as deputy archivist, would have been poised to take on the responsibilities of acting head of the agency.
