FBI, DOJ Plan Redactions Despite Trump's Document Order

[babylonsister]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-19/fbi-doj-said-to-plan-redactions-despite-trump-s-document-order?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=business&utm_medium=social

FBI, DOJ Plan Redactions Despite Trump’s Document Order
By Chris Strohm
September 19, 2018, 4:00 AM EDT


President Donald Trump has demanded the “immediate declassification” of sensitive materials about the Russia investigation, but the agencies responsible are expected to propose redactions that would keep some information secret, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department, FBI and Office of the Director of National Intelligence are going through a methodical review and can’t offer a timeline for finishing, said the people, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the sensitive matter.

snip//

While the agencies want to guard against revealing classified sources and methods about the ongoing Russia investigation, doing so could put them in direct conflict with Trump, who as president has the power to override the agencies and declassify material on his own.

It’s too early to say if any officials would resign in protest should Trump do that, one person said. Trump could ask the agencies to go back and scrub the redacted material further.

Critics, including leading congressional Democrats, contend that Trump has crossed a line by ordering release of the documents in order to interfere with and undermine the Russia investigation in which he’s a key figure.

“President Trump, in a clear abuse of power, has decided to intervene in a pending law enforcement investigation by ordering the selective release of materials he believes are helpful to his defense team and thinks will advance a false narrative,” Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement on Monday.

Trump took the rare step of ordering material released after a group of conservative House Republicans asked him to do so.

“When the president issues such an order, it triggers a declassification review process that is conducted by various agencies within the intelligence community, in conjunction with the White House counsel, to seek to ensure the safety of America’s national security interests,” a Justice Department spokesman said in a statement. “The department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are already working with the Director of National Intelligence to comply with the president’s order.”

more...

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-19/fbi-doj-said-to-plan-redactions-despite-trump-s-document-order?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=business&utm_medium=social

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

1. They can propose all they want

Hopefully trump goes with their recommendations. They can propose redactions, but its up trump. Ultimately, they have to declassify whatever he orders them to do. They don't have a choice.

[Lee-Lee]

2. It's a lose-lose here

They have to release what he says to. No legal authority to withhold anything.

They can propose to him to redact some things.

If Trump goes along, he will say “see, I’m not risking national security”. If he doesn’t he will say “the “deep state” tried to hide this and I wouldn’t let them”.

If they redact against his orders than he will use that as proof of the “deep state” to fire up his base, have jurisdiction to fire everyone involved, then release it anyway.