Donald Trump Promises Retribution if Re-Elected

Yet more evidence of an unfit, unstable candidate.

[Documents taken in August Mar-A-Lago search] [Documents taken in August Mar-A-Lago search]

A Shameful Editorial

The Wall Street Journal failed a key test.

Trump’s Been Indicted. What Now?

We’re in uncharted waters.

Biggest Leaker in Decade Should Never Have Had Access to Secrets

The United States has not learned from Snowden and Manning.

Daniel Ellsberg Wants More Leaks

The Pentagon Papers guy laments that there are too few like him.

Lackadaisical Handling of Secrets by Top Officials

It’s becoming a sad joke.

Ash Carter, 1954-2022

A brilliant national security leader is gone too soon.

Trump Tipping Point?

As more details emerge about the documents he stole, defenders are falling away.

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[Update] Analysis of NARA’s Letter to Former President Trump

Why would the Trump team release a document that casts them in such a bad light?

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Commentary On Presidential (De)Classification Powers

“Declassification, even by the President, must follow established procedures.” (Trump Administration 2018)

Myths of Presidential Impunity

While enormous, the commander-in-chief’s control over state secrets is not absolute.

Mar A Lago Mar A Lago

Politics, Law, and the Mar-a-Lago Search

That’s some catch, that Catch-22.

Prosecuting Trump for Mishandling Classified Materials

It’s complicated, hard to prove, and politically fraught.

FBI Raids Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Home

The former President and his supporters are crying “weaponization of the justice system.”

Trump Pondered Mexico Missile Attack, Shooting BLM Protesters

The 45th President was a psychopath.

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Trump Had Classified Docs at Mar-a-Lago

Because of course he did.

But His Documents!

Former President Trump routinely broke the law with respect to protecting public records.

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Secrecy and Democracy

How do we know when our government is telling us the truth?

Esper Suing DoD Over Book Redactions

Trump’s last Secretary of Defense is being stymied by preclearance review.

The New Red Scare

Fear of Chinese spies led to a bizarre and illegal operation within the Commerce Department.

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UN Ambassador’s Chief of Staff Loses Clearance

A bizarre case of bureaucratic ineptitude.

DNI Refusing to Brief Congress on Election Security

Yet more flouting of the rule of law by the Trump administration.

A Side Note on the Flynn Transcript

Yet again, this administration puts Trump’s political fortunes ahead of the national interest.

Republican Senators Commit Insider Trading after Coronavirus Brief

Richard Burr, Jim Inhofe, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler should go to jail.

Federal Court Rules Against White House On Witness Subpoenas

A Federal Judge in Washington, D.C. has ruled against the Trump Administration’s latest effort to stonewall Congressional inquiries.

Lt. Col. Vindman Told To ‘Keep Quiet’ About Ukraine Phone Call

And now we have evidence of a clear effort at a coverup by high-level White House employees. The question would be, what did the President know and when did he know it?

Final State Department Review Finds No Wrongdoing Regarding Clinton Emails

In what is hopefully the final review of the mater, an internal State Department view finds no wrongdoing with regard to Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.

Republicans Silent On Trump White House’s Use Of Private Communication

The same Republicans who were outraged over Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server are silent about the use of private apps by Trump officials.

Whistleblowers vs Leakers vs Spies

Yes, officials who follow the law are “whistleblowers.”

Trump Told Russians He Didn’t Care If They Interfered In 2016 Election

Not surprisingly, President Trump told Russian officials early on that he didn’t care if Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

Are There other Problematic Phone Calls?

A note in the whistleblower’s complaint suggests other transcripts, like the Zelensky call, that have been buried.

Whistleblowing on the President

A Harvard law professor makes my case better than I did.

Politicizing Intelligence

Yet another violation of norms by the 45th President.

Julian Assange Indicted On Additional Counts Alleging Violations Of Espionage Act

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been indicted on seventeen counts under the Espionage Act arising out of his role in the Chelsea Manning affair.

U.S. Halts Public Progress Reports On The Never-Ending War In Afghanistan

The U.S. military will no longer release reports regarding the success, or failure, of the current strategy in Afghanistan.

10 of 12 Congressional Leaders Offered Access to Less-Redacted Mueller Report Haven’t Bothered to Read It

Six Democrats are boycotting on principle. Four Republicans don’t care.

Majority Says They Won’t Vote For Trump In 2020

A new poll shows that a majority of Americans say they won’t vote for President Trump in 2020. but that’s only half the battle for Democrats

Assange Charged in Computer Hacking Conspiracy

The other shoe has dropped.

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White House Waived ‘Dozens’ of Clearance Denials

Findings of “foreign influence, conflicts of interest, concerning personal conduct, financial problems, drug use, and criminal conduct” were dismissed.

Trump Ordered Security Clearance For Jared Kushner Despite Objections

President Trump personally overrode the objections of security officials, the White House Counsel, and the Chief of Staff to make sure his son-in-law got a security clearance.

Former Trump Campaign Staffer Files Lawsuit Alleging Assault By Trump

A 2016 Trump Campaign staffer has filed a lawsuit against the President alleging that she was assaulted by Trump during the campaign.

Anthony Weiner Released From Prison

The ignominious saga of Anthony Weiner appears to have reached its end.

The First Amendment Problems With Prosecuting Julian Assange And Wikileaks

An effort by the Federal Government to prosecute Wikileaks founder Julian Assange raises serious First Amendment issues.

Trump Once Again Displays His Nixonian Side

A new report indicates that President Trump wanted to use the Justice Department to target political enemies. The last time that happened, it led to Articles of Impeachment.

Ivanka Trump Used Private Email For Government Communications

In news replete with irony, it’s being reported that Ivanka Trump used a private email account to communicate about government business.

Federal Government Inadvertently Reveals Sealed Indictment Against Julian Assange

A filing in an unrelated case has apparently revealed the existence of a sealed indictment against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

When Donald Trump Calls, The Chinese And Russians Are Listening In

President Trump’s private phone calls are apparently a major source of intelligence for foreign nations.

Trump Revokes Brennan’s Security Clearance

The former CIA Director has been stripped of his access to classified information after repeatedly criticizing the President.