One thing I find odd about the classified folders

[dsc]

why isn't there a number on them with a corresponding list with at least a vague description of what the document inside the folder? Without that, we won't ever know if we got all the documents back from Trump.

[RainCaster]

1. NARA kept a very thorough and accurate record

They know zackly what's missing.

[albacore]

2. Whoever took those folders to trump....

...had to sign for them. When that person went back to his boss empty-handed, you can betchurass they documented it.
Those records... and the statements of those delivery guys... will tell all.

[Joinfortmill]

10. 👍

[Mopar151]

3. Should be fully traceable

The folders I saw in the "scattered on the floor pics" had document numbers. In a secure traceable system, these would be serialized to each master document, i.e. (#3 of 10). It's quite likely that each page has a reference to the master document, even if is not readily apparent.
"cradle to grave" traceability is common in manufacturing, like aircraft parts and pharmaceuticals. Someone in a SCIF got to do some 'splainin!

[dsc]

5. I hope so

it seems nuts to me that there were no ID numbers.

[magicarpet]

4. Jeez,.. I don't think the big shots in the intel community,..

.... know for sure what is missing from those empty top secret folders. If they ever will.

The thing glaringly obvious is that the protocols and procedures for handling classified and top secret information needs a good look at and then tightening the whole system.

Intelligence documents can not be handled much like they were - treating them like the newspaper crossword puzzle. Everyone has access to a copy. Share it with everyone. Leave it here,.. leave it there. Then take it with you where ever you go. Then lose a copy and/or misplace a copy it,.. so what - no big deal.

We can do and must do way better than that.

How top secret docs were given to the Orange Meathead and not quickly retrieved a short time later or not retrieved at all is just astounding.

I understand he had top secret docs on Air Force One during his presidential overseas trips. WTF,.. I mean WTF,... how is this permissible ? Especially when DJT's cozy relationship with Putin is considered.

Then DJT was allowed to take top secret docs to Mar-a-Lago and play the real president but in exile for a year and one half keeping top secret docs so he could brag and play 007 big shot spy guy while showing the classified and top secret docs to who knows who ?

The loopholes that allowed these docs to be mishandled, misplaced, and lost is just beyond comprehension. This is worse than keystone cops bumbling idiotic buffoonery type stuff.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Trump was a one man audit on the entire US Gov't and citizens. We failed the audit.

Big time failed.

I agree, I don't think we know the extent of the damage, the lost materials, the impact on national security.
Some of it we will never know.

It is a total disgrace.

I also think it is a disgrace the US judicial system does not seem to understand this is a national security emergency
and military and intelligence agencies are at risk.

And there has been zero reassurance to the public that national security issues are being urgently addressed.

[Captain Zero]

9. Sadly your analogy is spot on: One Man Audit

Tfg was a one man audit on many government procedures and on the electorate in general.

Thank you. The short way to explain it to those who think govt should operate as a business.

[Genki Hikari]

7. I believe the intel community does know what's missing

They also know who took them, and who ran (or who intel suspects ran) interference to explain away why they weren't returned in the normal manner.

Someone high up at the alphabet soups let this happen. Or several someones.

People need to brace themselves for the reality that we will never get 100% answers to some of these questions, because we can't have that information. It's simply too sensitive to discuss it at all.

The most we'll know is when DOJ jacks up the collaborators. And there were collaborators to Hair Furor. Some very powerful ones. Untangling it all will not be easy, and piecing together who betrayed what won't happen overnight.

[H2O Man]

8. Right.

This isn't the level of investigation where everything can be made public, even when it goes to trial. Yet, we are seeing quite a lot. I would not be surprised if Trump has more, at other places, that the FBI did not find. More, I think the DOJ is aware the only actual threat to publish such things comes from Trump & Co.

[Joinfortmill]

11. 👍

[Irish_Dem]

12. I wish I had as much confidence. But yes we will never be told the truth.

Either because the US government does not know the extent of the damage, or cannot do an accurate audit
of Trump's paper trail and verbal communications.

And because it is all classified.

This is especially true if there are traitors at high levels.

The fact that the government is not reassuring the public about any this tells me they cannot give us reassurance.

Welcome to DU.

[kentuck]

13. I would think that with interdepartmental communications, that would not be uncommon?

For example, documents that are sent by courier from State Dept or Defense Dept to the White House, would likely use just a plain folder to cover the information inside, since it will be signed off and returned, supposedly.