AP: Trump Transition Officials Moved Classified Material Without Permission

[babylonsister]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-transition-classified-info-handling-concerned-obama-admin

AP: Trump Transition Officials Moved Classified Material Without Permission

By JULIE PACE, Published May 16, 2017 9:32 pm


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s disclosure of classified information to Russian officials isn’t the first time his team’s handling of secrets has raised alarm bells.

In the weeks before Trump took office, Obama administration officials were so concerned by the Trump transition team’s handling of classified documents that they moved swiftly to exert more control over the sensitive materials, according to two former U.S. officials.

The officials said transition officials removed classified materials from secure rooms and carried them between buildings in Washington without permission. Worried about keeping tabs on the highly sensitive material, the Obama administration officials set new limits on some classified information and explicitly barred Trump aides from viewing that material in their transition offices.

snip//

The Obama officials said the Trump national security transition team did not follow protocol. The transition team was allowed to request and view classified material in secure rooms both at their government-run offices in Washington and at the White House. But Obama administration officials soon learned that Trump’s aides were taking classified information out of the secure room at transition headquarters without approval.

One official said it appeared the transition aides were moving the information from the transition offices to the White House, a distance of just a few blocks. The Obama administration was not aware that the information was being brought to unsecure facilities or given to any third parties, but the officials said simply moving the documents without prior approval raised serious concerns.

Under the new policy implemented by the Obama administration, officials printed materials requested by the transition team at the White House and only allowed the documents to be viewed on site.

more...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-transition-classified-info-handling-concerned-obama-admin

[jpak]

1. Russia hit the jackpot with Trump

yup

[Zoonart]

2. Who directed that operation?

[lostnfound]

3. Wasn't Pence head of the transition?

[Zoonart]

4. I believe that we have a BINGO!

[babylonsister]

6. Message deleted by DU the Administrators

[Zoonart]

7. Yep!

[Bleacher Creature]

5. Drip, drip, drip . . . NT

[dalton99a]

8. Russia won and they treated our secrets like spoils of war

[Lee-Lee]

9. Revoke security clearances immediately, then prosecute

Period.

No exemptions.

Removing classified material from secure locations without proper authorization constitutes many violations.

Improper handling of classified materials.

Improper transportation of classified materials (you must be a classified courier certified to transport materials outside a SCI-FI unless its in your job description and transporting from place A to place B isn't it)

Improper storage of classified materials, if the location they took them too wasn't a SCIF.

[DetlefK]

10. In Germany, that would be jail-time.

In Germany, removing governmental records from their storage-site without permission means a prison-sentence of up to 2 years.

[C Moon]

11. If we get through this, it's going to take a long time to clean up.

I feel like Trump let a handful of maniacal, hate-filled racists have access to super sensitive material. I picture the punks smiling and giggling as they move stuff around.

[benpollard]

12. Old story

Until Republicans decide to do something about all these security breaches, nothing matters. It's just another day.

[videohead5]

13. Isn't This

Knowingly mishandling classified information?