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Dear John,
Donald Trump has been indicted on 37 criminal charges related to retaining classified documents and then refusing to return them, despite months of requests and a subpoena from the Justice Department.
Trump hoarded top secret files at Mar-a-Lago that included sensitive information about a foreign nation's nuclear capabilities and U.S. plans for retaliation. After the FBI got a court order and was forced to search the property themselves, in total, the government recovered: 60 top secret, 162 secret, 103 confidential, and 325 classified documents.[1]
This willful and dangerous disregard for the security protocols that protect our nation isn’t just disgraceful, from a former president no less, it’s deeply dangerous. That’s why he’s been charged with violating the Espionage Act.
The Espionage Act! And now, because Trump is running for president again, U.S. intelligence agencies have announced their intention to start giving him national security briefings again.
What in the hell are they thinking?
Granting Trump access to current national security briefings under these circumstances is playing Russian roulette with our national security. It would provide an open door to exploitation by foreign adversaries at a time when Trump’s desperation for cash to pay legal fees and penalties make him even more vulnerable.
This is a risk America cannot afford to take. Tell U.S. intelligence agencies to deny Donald Trump any and all access to classified intelligence briefings now.
Think about this as well. Trump is considering reinstating Paul Manafort, his disgraced 2016 campaign chairman, fresh out of prison for an array of financial crimes and illegal foreign lobbying.
Trump potentially sharing classified information with Manafort, a convicted felon with ties to foreign entities, poses an unacceptable threat to our national security.
Reports are that Trump is also likely to bring back his first National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, who was convicted of lying to the FBI about his Russian contacts and who urged Trump to impose martial law to overturn the 2020 election.
This pattern of behavior is why another one of Trump’s former National Security Advisers, John Bolton, minced no words in his assertion that Trump should be denied intelligence briefings saying he was “perplexed” and “I don’t think it makes any sense” that the security establishment would agree to it.[2]
It’s clear that Trump’s utter disregard for the safekeeping of our nation’s secrets poses a clear and present danger that cannot be ignored or trivialized.
Demand that U.S. intelligence agencies take Trump’s indictments seriously and not allow Trump any access to national security briefings.
Let's send a clear message that those indicted for risking our security should not access classified information.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
[1] The big numbers from the Mar-a-Lago search
[2] 'Totally irrelevant': John Bolton bashed for feeling ‘perplexed' about Trump receiving intelligence briefings if he becomes GOP nominee
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