President Trump on Friday Abandoned Plans to quickly Declassify and Release Sensitive Documents connected to the FBI's Russia Investigation, citing a "perceived negative impact" on the Probe and concerns raised by "key allies" about Dumping the Materials. Trump instead announced that he would defer to a Justice Department watchdog, Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who he once derided as an "Obama guy", to finish a Review of whether Anti-Trump Bias affected the FBI's handling of its 2016 Russia Probe.
"Therefore, the Inspector General ... has been asked to review these documents on an expedited basis," Trump tweeted Friday morning. "I believe he will move quickly on this (and hopefully other things which he is looking at). In the end I can always declassify if it proves necessary. Speed is very important to me — and everyone!"
Trump had sought the Release of Classified Portions of a Surveillance Warrant Application used to Track Former Campaign Adviser Carter Page. He also said he wanted to Publish the Interview Notes of a Top Justice Department Official and the Text Messages sent by former FBI Director James Comey and other Senior Bureau Officials.
Trump's Friday Tweet likely Staves off a Confrontation between the President and his own Intelligence Officials, who have Publicly and Privately warned of the Dangers of Revealing Classified Intelligence. Democrats have Attacked the Initial Decision to Release the Documents as Reckless, arguing it could Endanger International Intelligence Partnerships and Sources.
After Trump announced he would Slow the Declassification push, Sen. Mark Warner the Top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, took a swipe at Trump's Comment. "This is why the President should be relying on the advice of intelligence and law enforcement professionals, not cable news hosts," Warner Tweeted.
The Decision to Slow things down came after the White House asserted on Monday that the President had already Ordered the "immediate declassification" of the Documents. Since then, Justice Department Officials have said they were Reviewing the President's Order. As President, Trump has the Ultimate Authority to determine what Information is considered Classified.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment