Help me understand how much power a US. president has here.

[bluestarone]

Just what powers does a president have? Can they really declassify ANYTHING they want to? Sounds like a very scary situation, if you ask me. I fear we are about to enter uncharted territory with all these questions of what TFG did or didn't do. Is there anything we can do to fix it, if it needs fixing?

[COL Mustard]

1. I'm told there are some limits

But generally, yes, a President can declassify most things that originate from the Executive Departments. A President can also direct that someone receive a security clearance if he feels that it's necessary, even though the person is generally not otherwise qualified. Again, there are some limits and *MOST* Presidents (well, all except the last one) have abided by those rules.

Generally, as I understand it (and my security experience is dated) there is a document review and the agencies that developed/classified the documents are given input, and there's something in writing to support the declassification decision. There is no "declassification wand" that a President can just wave and say "Poof, you're no longer TS/SCI".

I am of course not surprised that TFG would break those norms as cavalierly as he apparently did.

[FalloutShelter]

3. I also heard Malcom Nance say-

That after a review the docs that have been declassified are physically stamped declassified. So there's that.

[bluestarone]

8. It's really hard for me to understand this.

Totally asinine for ONE PERSON to have this kind of power, for 4 or 8 years! Actually i'm surprised that this motherfucker didn't DESTROY us. Wish this could be CHANGED to the whole presidential cabinites involved somehow.

[Ocelot II]

2. They can't declassify nuclear weapons stuff without a sign off by the Energy Dept.,

and there’s a process for declassifying other things, which would include documenting the decision and removing the classification stamp from each document. Just saying something has been declassified doesn’t make it so.

[Pelosi Pepperment]

4. They can discuss classified info with whomever they want

I just read that. Basically if you walk into the oval and the president wants to discuss classified info with you he can and then technically it become declassified. As leader of the executive the president has enormous power when it come to these things. Which is why I’m so mad that they elected a bafoon with zero self control - who knows the damage this idiot did to the country.

[Ocelot II]

7. Where did you read that?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

15. Under a bridge somewhere

[WarGamer]

24. see #21

[ShazzieB]

18. Or to put it another way, where did they pull it out of?

I'm guessing it's a place where the sun doesn't shine.

[WarGamer]

23. see #21

[WarGamer]

21. Politifact says "mostly true". 2017 (referencing meetine with Russians in the Oval Office)

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/may/16/james-risch/does-president-have-ability-declassify-anything-an/

Risch said, "The minute the president speaks about it to someone, he has the ability to declassify anything at any time without any process."

We found broad agreement that a president, using powers granted by the Constitution, is able to declassify essentially anything. However, experts added that Risch’s comment was not entirely on point for the particular situation involving Trump.

In this case, it appears Trump didn’t actually use his declassification power before talking to the Russian officials, and just because Trump’s actions were legal doesn’t necessarily mean they were wise. These caveats add nuance to analyses of what Trump did.

The statement is accurate but needs clarification and additional information, so we rate it Mostly True.

[llashram]

12. huh?

where did you get this info? Sounds like bs to me...

[WarGamer]

22. see #21

[uponit7771]

5. +1,

[bluestarone]

6. Probably just a way to

Tie up our court system, OR get the idiot CULT upset to cause more violence. (this doesn't surprise me at all.

[relayerbob]

9. No

There are procedures for doing that, and generally speaking requires the classification authority to declassify things. There are some exceptions, but almost never can a President do that unilaterally. They certainly can't do that just so they can take the material to their hotel and sell it.

[bluestarone]

10. God, i would hope so. BUT

Reading some posts here, worries me just how much power this IDIOT had for 4 years!

[Phoenix61]

11. That's sadly not true. The owners, for lack of a better word, of the document can

give advice but the president can ignore that and declassify anything other than some nuclear related things. There is a paperwork process that marks the document unclassified it doesn’t change the fact the president can, on a mere whim, make that decision. The founding fathers never envisioned the people of the US electing a traitor.

[relayerbob]

26. No. Here is a good thread on the topic

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1558957669020422144.html

[relayerbob]

27. And General Hertling's take on it

Link to tweet

[PortTack]

13. Ask the gqp if a democratic president had done this what their reply would be. Then you will

Have a correct answer based in truth and the law!

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

14. The President can declassify anything with a couple exceptions

Nuclear weapons and nuclear energy materials are classified via statute through the Atomic Energy Acts. All other classified material has been done so via a series of Executive Orders dating back to Truman. The President can ignore, modify, or make exemptions to any executive order, regardless of which President issued it, at any time. Because of this, the President can declassify things at will. That's the argument at least. Others will argue against it. If the DoJ goes down that path it will be up to the courts to decide. This is another instance where Trump has shown the shortcomings of current laws, rules, and procedures.

[bluestarone]

16. Question in my mind is

Does the president have to follow legal procedure? If not, THEN what about hidden pardons? Whole fucking can of worms, IF this asshole can choose his own procedures!!

[pwb]

17. We expect people to act within the law when elected.

We don't expect them to surprise us and shit all over our government like pukes do. The only fix is to vote every year.

[WarGamer]

19. SCOTUS will decide the limits.

[bluestarone]

20. THAT does kinda worry me too

With THIS court! I had full faith in the previous SC. but not any more!

[brooklynite]

25. 1) Yes. 2) It doesn't matter.

The President, as Commander in Chief, can declassify any material.

Presidential documents, classified or not, cannot be held after the term expires.