Trump’s leaks crackdown sends chills through national security world

[mystery-ak]

 Trump’s leaks crackdown sends chills through national security world

Agency officials say measures have been taken to isolate leakers, creating a culture of fear.

By Ali Watkins and Josh Dawsey

07/07/2017 05:11 AM EDT

National security officials across the federal government say they are seeing new restrictions on who can access sensitive information, fueling fears in the intelligence and security community that the Trump administration has stepped up a stealthy operation to smoke out leakers.

Officials at various national security agencies also say they are becoming more concerned that the administration is carefully tracking what they’re doing and who they’re talking to — then plotting to use them as a scapegoat or accuse them of leaks.

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http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/07/trumps-leak-vendetta-sends-chills-240274

[Maj. Bill Martin]

The tone of this article is that trying to catch/stop people leaking national security information is a bad thing.  If people leaking information are becoming concerned that they might get caught...isn't that a good thing?

[XenaLee]

So.... what's the difference between leakers and whistle-blowers?

[Maj. Bill Martin]

So.... what's the difference between leakers and whistle-blowers?

Well, there are legal definitions of what it takes to be a "whistle-blower", and to gain the protection of whistle-blower statutes.  But rather than doing that, I'll simply say that if you leak classified information to the press, you are a leaker and should be prosecuted.

If you are a good-faith whistle-blower, then tell it to a member of Congress or other, more senior person within the Executive Branch.

[XenaLee]

Well, there are legal definitions of what it takes to be a "whistle-blower", and to gain the protection of whistle-blower statutes.  But rather than doing that, I'll simply say that if you leak classified information to the press, you are a leaker and should be prosecuted.

If you are a good-faith whistle-blower, then tell it to a member of Congress or other, more senior person within the Executive Branch.

So basically, if you're a whistle-blower.... the only ones you can "leak" to is an elected official?  Ok, got it.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

So basically, if you're a whistle-blower.... the only ones you can "leak" to is an elected official?  Ok, got it.

No, you apparently don't "get it", because that's not what I said.   It doesn't have to be an elected official, because in the Executive Branch, that would be limited to the President and VP.  It just has to be someone senior to you -- someone "up the chain of command", because the whole point is to give someone a chance to correct the problem because taking it outside the organization.  Inspectors General are a perfect choice, and there also are whistleblower hotlines.

If, after you've tried all that, nothing works, then go to a member of Congress, who will have a security clearance and some degree of discretion.  But handing it all out to the press, who has no security clearance and no discretion, is not defensible and should be illegal when it involves classified material.