Skip to content

Forget that “declassification” excuse

So, the FBI warrant shows that Trump is being investigated for possible violation of three separate laws. The NY Times’ Charlie Savage writes:

The search warrant for Trump’s residence cited three criminal laws, all from Title 18 of the United States Code. Section 793, better known as the Espionage Act, which covers the unlawful retention of defense-related information that could harm the United States or aid a foreign adversary; Section 1519, which covers destroying or concealing documents to obstruct government investigations or administrative proceedings; and Section 2071, which covers the unlawful removal of government records. 

He adds this amazing kicker:

Notably, none of those laws turn on whether information was deemed to be unclassified.

That kind of blows the “I declassified it in my mind” defense they’ve all been building. Not that he had a leg to stand on even then. Declassification requires that a president follows certain protocols. But if Savage is right it doesn’t matter either way.

Published inUncategorized