Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador

[ABX]

President Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in a White House meeting last week, according to current and former U.S. officials, who said that Trump’s disclosures jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State.

The information Trump relayed had been provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. government, officials said.....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?tid=ss_fb-bottom&utm_term=.f9f791978bfe

[DiogenesLamp]

Well of course anything the Washington Post writes is credible. 



It's not like they have an agenda or anything. 



Beyond that, the President can declassify anything he damn well pleases. 

[geronl]

We need an emoji that looks shell-shocked and has a palm print on it's face from face-palming so much.

[geronl]

Beyond that, the President can declassify anything he damn well pleases.

not without consequences though

[catfish1957]

Well of course anything the Washington Post writes is credible. 



It's not like they have an agenda or anything. 



Beyond that, the President can declassify anything he damn well pleases.

I'll grant that WaPo is a slime leftist rag.

OTOH....  If this is true, and our military interests are put in harms way.....   I'd hope Trump would do the honorable thing, and hand the reins over to Pence.

[DiogenesLamp]

not without consequences though

If the Washington Post was concerned about consequences,  they wouldn't have been licking Obama's @$$ for all these years he's been bungling Syria and Iran and Korea.   

[ABX]

.....Beyond that, the President can declassify anything he damn well pleases.

Common misconception. The President does have classification authority, but to declassify, if it isn't related to the classification date expiring, requires a very specific process. The President can authorize that process, but he can't just deem it so.

(example of one EO on the matter.. most continue this same process) https://fas.org/sgp/bush/eoamend.html

This came under big scrutiny with Obama regarding the leaking of Osama raid information to filmmakers (including revealing names of SEALS involved). The left argued just as you said, he can 'do what he damn well pleases' regarding classification.  Judicial watch submitted hundreds of pages of argument against the legality of this action. (of course, our side didn't pursue it).

[DiogenesLamp]

Common misconception. The President does have classification authority, but to declassify, if it isn't related to the classification date expiring, requires a very specific process. The President can authorize that process, but he can't just deem it so.

(example of one EO on the matter.. most continue this same process) https://fas.org/sgp/bush/eoamend.html

This came under big scrutiny with Obama regarding the leaking of Osama raid information to filmmakers (including revealing names of SEALS involved). The left argued just as you said, he can 'do what he damn well pleases' regarding classification.  Judicial watch submitted hundreds of pages of argument against the legality of this action. (of course, our side didn't pursue it).

I will take your word for it that there is a "legal"  process,   but I will counter that likely the President can defacto declassify things without concerning himself about the process. 


Who's going to tell him "no",  and who's going to punish him if he does it anyway? 

[r9etb]

I will take your word for it that there is a "legal"  process,   but I will counter that likely the President can defacto declassify things without concerning himself about the process. 


Who's going to tell him "no",  and who's going to punish him if he does it anyway?

All moot.  The president gets to decide "need to know," and classified information could be passed on to whomever under that understanding.

[DiogenesLamp]

All moot.  The president gets to decide "need to know," and classified information could be passed on to whomever under that understanding.

The thought occurred to me that perhaps he saw some value in revealing this to the Russians.   


I don't know.   I don't know what he knows,  so I can't speak to it with any authority.

[r9etb]

The thought occurred to me that perhaps he saw some value in revealing this to the Russians.   


I don't know.   I don't know what he knows,  so I can't speak to it with any authority.

I think if he did it, it's because he's an idiot who speaks before thinking.  But he does get to decide on "need to know" in such circumstances.

[DiogenesLamp]

I think if he did it, it's because he's an idiot who speaks before thinking. 

That is a possibility as well,   but for an "idiot"  he does seem to win a lot. 

[mystery-ak]

Fox reporting this story...with the term *supposedly*....and John Roberts reports that the POTUS can release info if he chooses...

[kevindavis007]

Beyond that, the President can declassify anything he damn well pleases.

Just as long as it is our guy doing it right? What would you be saying if Hillary had done it?

[DiogenesLamp]

Just as long as it is our guy doing it right? What would you be saying if Hillary had done it?

I would be saying "I'm not surprised she did that,  because she is an idiot."   


"And corrupt."

[Right_in_Virginia]

Just as long as it is our guy doing it right? What would you be saying if Hillary had done it?

If she were President and CIC, then Hillary could do it.

[anubias]

"And corrupt."

Exactly.  I would be wondering how much they will be donating to the Clinton Foundation.

I don't have the same expectations of corruption for Trump.  He may eventually prove me wrong, but I suspect he did it for a good reason and WAPO is reporting it trying to cause more trouble.  When the Media cries "Wolf" constantly, it loses its bite.

[DiogenesLamp]

Exactly.  I would be wondering how much they will be donating to the Clinton Foundation.

I don't have the same expectations of corruption for Trump.  He may eventually prove me wrong, but I suspect he did it for a good reason and WAPO is reporting it trying to cause more trouble.  When the Media cries "Wolf" constantly, it loses its bite.

That's a thought I just had a little while ago.   *This*  is the latest media rant story of the week.   


Much of the public is tuning out. 

[geronl]

I don't have the same expectations of corruption for Trump.

lol, then you don't know him too well.

[Emjay]

Exactly.  I would be wondering how much they will be donating to the Clinton Foundation.

I don't have the same expectations of corruption for Trump.  He may eventually prove me wrong, but I suspect he did it for a good reason and WAPO is reporting it trying to cause more trouble.  When the Media cries "Wolf" constantly, it loses its bite.

So true.  I mean every day the media comes out with a new negative story about Trump and two days later it either wasn't true or didn't mean enough to matter.

So, yeah, instead of an automatic 'blame Trump' button that I see from some, I have an automatic "it's the press ... let's wait and see if it's true and if it matters" button.

[mystery-ak]

Fox is suspicious of this story and I think we should be too.

[NavyCanDo]

Beyond that, the President can declassify anything he damn well pleases.

Not true. He does have limitations on what he can declassify on his own.

[beandog]

Fox is suspicious of this story and I think we should be too.

What, you don't believe the Washington Compost and "Unnamed sources".

[mystery-ak]

 Mark Warner‏Verified account @MarkWarner 55m55 minutes ago

Mark Warner Retweeted Washington Post

If true, this is a slap in the face to the intel community. Risking sources & methods is inexcusable, particularly with the Russians.



 Jeremy Diamond‏Verified account @JDiamond1 60m60 minutes ago

McCain on report Trump shared code-word classified info w/ Russians: "If it's true, I would say it's disturbing."

[mystery-ak]

 Josh Barro‏Verified account @jbarro

Josh Barro Retweeted Bret Baier

That is not hard pushback, since the WaPo story does not claim they discussed sources, methods, or military ops. A non-denial denial.