Intelligence Agencies Briefing Trump On Classified Info Before The Election Seems Insane
We must treat this guy the way his track record demands he be treated.
By Charles P. Pierce PUBLISHED: MAR 08, 2024 8:18 AM EST
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politic...omination/
I'd like to congratulate whoever for giving me something to worry about that hadn't occurred to me before. From Politico:
The decision would be in keeping with a tradition that dates back to 1952, but it would mark the first time an administration has volunteered to share classified information with a candidate who is facing criminal charges related to the mishandling of classified documents. The Biden administration intends to share intelligence with the former president no matter the outcome of his trial in Florida, according to a senior intelligence official and a second person with knowledge of internal conversations. They, like some others interviewed, were granted anonymity to discuss sensitive internal deliberations.
The sit-down is not legally required, but for the last 72 years, incumbent administrations have tapped the spy agencies to read in the candidates of both major political parties on some of the most pressing threats to the country. While often this is just one meeting, sometimes candidates receive several briefings.
I think this is completely insane. If El Caudillo del Mar-a-Lago wins the presidency, then you can give him intelligence briefings. But to do so now, with the documents case pending in Florida, and with his needing gobs of money from somewhere to pay off the judgments against him, is to indulge his love for reckless grifting beyond what is safe .
And to do so just because that's the way it's always done is a shabby excuse for doing so now. I don't know how often it has to be said but the former president* is in no way business as usual. He is sui generis in the threat he poses to the institutions of democracy. He ignores the customary rules of behavior and, therefore, he doesn't deserve the benefits of them. And, Lord help me, I wind up agreeing with John Bolton.
John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser and an outspoken critic of his former boss, said the pending court case could justify holding back the candidate briefing for Trump. “We haven’t faced this situation before. But I think the logic could well dictate to Biden he’s not going to give Trump an intelligence briefing,” Bolton said. But for the White House, opting not to extend the tradition to Trump would likely embolden the former president’s claims — in court and outside it — that the intelligence community is biased against him.
Oh, for the love of god, enough with this. Everybody stop stepping gingerly around this guy because he and his followers make you nervous and just do the right thing. Treat him the way his track record dictates he be treated—like a genuine national security threat—and let the chips fall. You people are the government. Defend yourselves.
Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston and has three children.
Conversation32 Comments
HAL9000
45 minutes ago
Feed him bad info, and see if he sells it to someone.
tom4540
1 hour ago
Charlie,
I was an Intelligence and Security officer during my Army career (1973-1994). One of my main duties was the protection and security of classified documents. Trump rings ALL the alarms for someone who should NOT have classified information!! And if Fox “News” squawks, simply say: “Mr. Trump’s previous behavior shows he is a grave security risk. Briefing him would be like briefing Vladimir Putin, end of story”. And repeat this EVERY time they’re dumb enough to bring it up from here on out.
We must treat this guy the way his track record demands he be treated.
By Charles P. Pierce PUBLISHED: MAR 08, 2024 8:18 AM EST
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politic...omination/
I'd like to congratulate whoever for giving me something to worry about that hadn't occurred to me before. From Politico:
The decision would be in keeping with a tradition that dates back to 1952, but it would mark the first time an administration has volunteered to share classified information with a candidate who is facing criminal charges related to the mishandling of classified documents. The Biden administration intends to share intelligence with the former president no matter the outcome of his trial in Florida, according to a senior intelligence official and a second person with knowledge of internal conversations. They, like some others interviewed, were granted anonymity to discuss sensitive internal deliberations.
The sit-down is not legally required, but for the last 72 years, incumbent administrations have tapped the spy agencies to read in the candidates of both major political parties on some of the most pressing threats to the country. While often this is just one meeting, sometimes candidates receive several briefings.
I think this is completely insane. If El Caudillo del Mar-a-Lago wins the presidency, then you can give him intelligence briefings. But to do so now, with the documents case pending in Florida, and with his needing gobs of money from somewhere to pay off the judgments against him, is to indulge his love for reckless grifting beyond what is safe .
And to do so just because that's the way it's always done is a shabby excuse for doing so now. I don't know how often it has to be said but the former president* is in no way business as usual. He is sui generis in the threat he poses to the institutions of democracy. He ignores the customary rules of behavior and, therefore, he doesn't deserve the benefits of them. And, Lord help me, I wind up agreeing with John Bolton.
John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser and an outspoken critic of his former boss, said the pending court case could justify holding back the candidate briefing for Trump. “We haven’t faced this situation before. But I think the logic could well dictate to Biden he’s not going to give Trump an intelligence briefing,” Bolton said. But for the White House, opting not to extend the tradition to Trump would likely embolden the former president’s claims — in court and outside it — that the intelligence community is biased against him.
Oh, for the love of god, enough with this. Everybody stop stepping gingerly around this guy because he and his followers make you nervous and just do the right thing. Treat him the way his track record dictates he be treated—like a genuine national security threat—and let the chips fall. You people are the government. Defend yourselves.
Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston and has three children.
Conversation32 Comments
HAL9000
45 minutes ago
Feed him bad info, and see if he sells it to someone.
tom4540
1 hour ago
Charlie,
I was an Intelligence and Security officer during my Army career (1973-1994). One of my main duties was the protection and security of classified documents. Trump rings ALL the alarms for someone who should NOT have classified information!! And if Fox “News” squawks, simply say: “Mr. Trump’s previous behavior shows he is a grave security risk. Briefing him would be like briefing Vladimir Putin, end of story”. And repeat this EVERY time they’re dumb enough to bring it up from here on out.
