Posted by [Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. I thought I would start my 40 days in the desert with a penitential post. Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa]
On June 5, 2023, Mark A. Bradley, Director of the Information Security Oversight Office at the National Archives, submitted his final annual report to the President of the United States. In his cover letter he noted the security issues with Presidents Trump, and Biden. Both cases reflect a lack of serious respect for the importance of classified material by the highest-ranking officers in this nation. Mr. Bradley noted, “… those who are serving in our government’s highest offices must follow the same security practices and requirements as the rest of us who have access to this kind of information.”
Mr. Bradley also stated that required annual security briefings should be initiated to “remind them of their life-long legal obligation to not disclose classified information and to not treat government records, classified or not, as their personal property.”
For anyone who has held security clearances, this is as important as the oath to defend the Constitution. In fact, members of Congress take an oath.
Rule XXIII clause 13, the Code of Official Conduct, prescribes an oath to be executed by all Members, officers, and employees of the House before they obtain access to classified information:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will not disclose any classified information received in the course of my service with the House of Representatives, except as authorized by the House of Representatives or in accordance with its rules. Manual Sec. 1095.
This oath captures the essence of individual responsibility for each person accessing classified information. Consider the following requirements for safeguarding classified information as documented in the official policy statement of the ISOO (Information Security Oversight Office) at the National Archives. (I’ll only select a few; the list is long)
(a) A person may have access to classified information provided that:
(2) the person has signed an approved nondisclosure agreement;
(b) Every person who has met the standards for access to classified information in paragraph (a) of this section shall receive contemporaneous training on the proper safeguarding of classified information and on the criminal, civil, and administrative sanctions that may be imposed on an individual who fails to protect classified information from unauthorized disclosure.
(d) Classified information may not be removed from official premises without proper authorization.
(e) Persons authorized to disseminate classified information outside the executive branch shall ensure the protection of the information in a manner equivalent to that provided within the executive branch.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on these policies.
Does the President sign a nondisclosure agreement? Or is this one of the loopholes in Executive access requirements that Mr. Bradley requested be removed? In fact, how meaningful is paragraph b) since Mr. Bradley indicates that annual training for presidents needs to be added? What “criminal, civil, and administrative sanctions” may be imposed on the President if he fails to protect classified information from unauthorized disclosure?
Unauthorized disclosure! I’m confident Mr. Trump is convinced he is authorized to do whatever he wants (he’s said it often enough). As far as Mr. Biden is concerned, everything he does is tied to his legacy, so classified information simply supports his story.
Paragraph e) is the piece de resistance. Requiring persons to protect information “in a manner equivalent to that provided within the executive branch” means there is no need to protect any classified information. If Mr. Bradley wants tighter requirements for actually classifying information, maybe messieurs Trump and Biden can work together to effectively eliminate the need for any classified data.
So, here’s my question to the reader: Why would anyone want either of these two senior delinquents to be president for another term? The fact that they each have one term under their belts is criminal. The abuse of power in handling classified information is conveniently dismissed by them. Mr. Trump continues to look for legal loopholes (like he does with taxes). Mr. Biden simply hides behind the vision of his legacy in Washington (he’s a legend in his own mind).
Let’s recall that under the Constitution, the President is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military (ArtII.S2.C1.1.11 Presidential Power and Commander in Chief Clause) This is the highest command authority in the nation. It requires the greatest level of integrity to have the right stuff to be this nation’s leader. Anyone supporting either one of these misfits has no idea what leadership means. If you’re measuring the impact either one will have on your personal lifestyle, you’re as shallow as they are. If you’re simply ‘lemming’ your way through life, you’re not even as shallow as they are.
It’s not too late. There’s still time to nominate viable leaders before November 5th.
As always, in the words of Edward R. Morrow, “Good night and good luck”
Joe Allen 