Does the Special Master need security clearance?

1,961 Views | 31 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by Ag with kids
solishu
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Curious if anybody knows the answer to this. If all of the documents have been declassified, than I would assume the answer is "no," and it would actually be a pretty serious breach of security to give a civilian clearance when he has no responsibilities that would require it. What do you guys think?
TXAggie2011
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
The Trump team said he should have top secret clearance
HTownAg98
How long do you want to ignore this user?
IIRC, Trump's attorneys recommended that the special master have a security clearance.
solishu
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
HTownAg98 said:

IIRC, Trump's attorneys recommended that the special master have a security clearance.
Weird. Did they say why?
HTownAg98
How long do you want to ignore this user?
They did not. Just that they agreed the that the special master should have TS/SCI clearance. See page 14.
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.618763/gov.uscourts.flsd.618763.58.0_4.pdf
HumbleAg04
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
solishu said:

HTownAg98 said:

IIRC, Trump's attorneys recommended that the special master have a security clearance.
Weird. Did they say why?

fooz
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Posting in a troll bread.
HarryJ33tamu
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Flag the troll and move along
solishu
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
fooz said:

Posting in a troll bread.
What are you talking about?
Stat Monitor Repairman
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Dems should create a special court for these serious issues.

No reason we can't have secret evidence used against political opponents. Sometimes protecting democracy requires curtail of fundamental rights … you know. Just this one time because its an emergency.

Maybe call it the actBlue Star Chamber or something.

Just a thought.
Faustus
How long do you want to ignore this user?
solishu said:

fooz said:

Posting in a troll bread.
What are you talking about?


That he's being a crepe.
Im Gipper
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?

I'm Gipper
ThunderCougarFalconBird
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
If it's a senior or retired judge, they'll almost assuredly have it anyways making the question moot.
AzAg80
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
solishu said:

Curious if anybody knows the answer to this. If all of the documents have been declassified, than I would assume the answer is "no," and it would actually be a pretty serious breach of security to give a civilian clearance when he has no responsibilities that would require it. What do you guys think?
If there's debate about whether the documents have been declassified, then to be safe the SM should have the appropriate clearance, IMO. Otherwise they would be risking a security breach, at least it would be if one of us peons were given access without clearance.
eric76
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Im Gipper said:

I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?
If Trump can declassify them with his imagination, then Biden can surely reclassify them with his imagination.
AgGrad99
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
eric76 said:

Im Gipper said:

I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?
If Trump can declassify them with his imagination, then Biden can surely reclassify them with his imagination.

That's a funny way of framing things...

But if we assume that's a proper line of reasoning...doesn't it reiterate the point?

If they are reclassified, wouldn't we need someone with the proper clearance to review them? Otherwise, there is no issue, because they weren't' improperly taken to begin with.
eric76
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
AgGrad99 said:

eric76 said:

Im Gipper said:

I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?
If Trump can declassify them with his imagination, then Biden can surely reclassify them with his imagination.

That's a funny way of framing things...

But if we assume that's a proper line of reasoning...doesn't it reiterate the point?

If they are reclassified, wouldn't we need someone with the proper clearance to review them? Otherwise, there is no issue, because they weren't' improperly taken to begin with.
I suspect that the reason that they haven't "reclassified" them just to be sure is that they don't want to give any credence to the notion that Trump ever "declassified" them.

In any event, if Trump really did declassify them and then Biden reclassified them, then Trump would have no legitimate right to keep them.
AgGrad99
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Which would suggest the need for proper clearance.

Either way, it's not logically consistent.
eric76
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
AgGrad99 said:

Which would suggest the need for proper clearance.

Either way, it's not logically consistent.
I think that there is very little reason to believe that they were ever declassified.
cevans_40
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
eric76 said:

AgGrad99 said:

Which would suggest the need for proper clearance.

Either way, it's not logically consistent.
I think that there is very little reason to believe that they were ever declassified.
What about the underwear and time magazines?
Sq4fish83
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Faustus said:

solishu said:

fooz said:

Posting in a troll bread.
What are you talking about?


That he's being a crepe.

What kind? Chocolate? Blueberry?
Ag with kids
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
eric76 said:

AgGrad99 said:

eric76 said:

Im Gipper said:

I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?
If Trump can declassify them with his imagination, then Biden can surely reclassify them with his imagination.

That's a funny way of framing things...

But if we assume that's a proper line of reasoning...doesn't it reiterate the point?

If they are reclassified, wouldn't we need someone with the proper clearance to review them? Otherwise, there is no issue, because they weren't' improperly taken to begin with.
I suspect that the reason that they haven't "reclassified" them just to be sure is that they don't want to give any credence to the notion that Trump ever "declassified" them.

In any event, if Trump really did declassify them and then Biden reclassified them, then Trump would have no legitimate right to keep them.

And it would be a document dispute between NARA and Trump, not the DOJ...
You can turn off signatures, btw
Sq4fish83
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
eric76 said:

AgGrad99 said:

Which would suggest the need for proper clearance.

Either way, it's not logically consistent.
I think.

lol
ThunderCougarFalconBird
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
AgGrad99 said:

Which would suggest the need for proper clearance.

Either way, it's not logically consistent.
Probably why Trump (and I assume the DOJ) all proposed people that almost assuredly already have clearance so this issue is moot.

Trump would pick people with clearance to avoid the lazy lawyer trick (if he declassified them, why do they need clearance, amirite???) that people are throwing around on this thread.

DOJ would pick people with clearance because offering someone without clearance nukes their position about impermissible possession of confidential information.

So the person picked will almost assuredly have clearance regardless of whether they need it. This is all academic.
Red Red Wine
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
This thread is dumb.

Watermelon Man
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Ag with kids said:

eric76 said:

AgGrad99 said:

eric76 said:

Im Gipper said:

I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?
If Trump can declassify them with his imagination, then Biden can surely reclassify them with his imagination.

That's a funny way of framing things...

But if we assume that's a proper line of reasoning...doesn't it reiterate the point?

If they are reclassified, wouldn't we need someone with the proper clearance to review them? Otherwise, there is no issue, because they weren't' improperly taken to begin with.
I suspect that the reason that they haven't "reclassified" them just to be sure is that they don't want to give any credence to the notion that Trump ever "declassified" them.

In any event, if Trump really did declassify them and then Biden reclassified them, then Trump would have no legitimate right to keep them.

And it would be a document dispute between NARA and Trump, not the DOJ...
Which is my understanding of how this all began, a dispute between NARA and Trump. NARA contacted Trump concerning Presidential records he took when he left the WH in Jan 2021. Most notably it had been reported in the news that Trump had been displaying a letter from Kim Jung-un to visitors to Mar-A-Lago, so NARA began communications with Trump for the return of any and all such documents. This started in May 2012, I believe. For months there were communications between NARA and Trump concerning these records.

As a result, in January 2022, Trump transferred 15 boxes of documents to NARA, who asked, and received, a waiver on executive privilege to review these records from President Biden. When reviewing these records, NARA discovered there were some documents that contained national defense information (NDI) in the boxes, mixed with other documents. This is when NARA referred these documents to the DoJ. The DoJ then made a formal request to Biden that the FBI investigate these records. This is a requirement of the PRA, that only the president can authorize law enforcement to investigate presidential records.

So, this started as a dispute between NARA and Trump. After 7 months, Trump sent some records to NARA, as requested. When looking at these records, NARA discovered NDI along with some of the other records, so they referred the matter to DoJ. The DoJ got permission from Biden to allow FBI investigate the matter, which resulted in the evidence used to obtain the search warrant, as the FBI found credible evidence that documents that were marked classified were still present at MaL.

In don't believe that in any of the communications between Trump and NARA, in response to any subpoena, or in or response to any motions filed associated with the search warrant has Trump made the assertion that he declassified any of the documents.
It is much easier to fool someone than it is to convince someone that he has been fooled.
Im Gipper
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Quote:

Trump would pick people with clearance to avoid the lazy lawyer trick (if he declassified them, why do they need clearance, amirite???) that people are throwing around on this thread.
Must be even lazier lawyering to never actually make the claim in a filed document that he declassified, amarite???

How hard would it be to write "President Trump contends these documents were declassified, but given the dispute agrees the special master should have certain security clearance"?

I'm Gipper
eric76
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Ag with kids said:

eric76 said:

AgGrad99 said:

eric76 said:

Im Gipper said:

I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?
If Trump can declassify them with his imagination, then Biden can surely reclassify them with his imagination.

That's a funny way of framing things...

But if we assume that's a proper line of reasoning...doesn't it reiterate the point?

If they are reclassified, wouldn't we need someone with the proper clearance to review them? Otherwise, there is no issue, because they weren't' improperly taken to begin with.
I suspect that the reason that they haven't "reclassified" them just to be sure is that they don't want to give any credence to the notion that Trump ever "declassified" them.

In any event, if Trump really did declassify them and then Biden reclassified them, then Trump would have no legitimate right to keep them.

And it would be a document dispute between NARA and Trump, not the DOJ...
The DOJ does not get involved with classified documents?
Ag with kids
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
eric76 said:

Ag with kids said:

eric76 said:

AgGrad99 said:

eric76 said:

Im Gipper said:

I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?
If Trump can declassify them with his imagination, then Biden can surely reclassify them with his imagination.

That's a funny way of framing things...

But if we assume that's a proper line of reasoning...doesn't it reiterate the point?

If they are reclassified, wouldn't we need someone with the proper clearance to review them? Otherwise, there is no issue, because they weren't' improperly taken to begin with.
I suspect that the reason that they haven't "reclassified" them just to be sure is that they don't want to give any credence to the notion that Trump ever "declassified" them.

In any event, if Trump really did declassify them and then Biden reclassified them, then Trump would have no legitimate right to keep them.

And it would be a document dispute between NARA and Trump, not the DOJ...
The DOJ does not get involved with classified documents?
These are either personal records or Presidential records - therefore it's covered by the PRA. So, a civil issue between the POTUS and NARA.
You can turn off signatures, btw
AgGrad99
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG

Quote:

So the person picked will almost assuredly have clearance regardless of whether they need it. This is all academic.
Agreed.

Im just pointing out the logical inconsistencies of some posts on the thread.
eric76
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Ag with kids said:

eric76 said:

Ag with kids said:

eric76 said:

AgGrad99 said:

eric76 said:

Im Gipper said:

I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?
If Trump can declassify them with his imagination, then Biden can surely reclassify them with his imagination.

That's a funny way of framing things...

But if we assume that's a proper line of reasoning...doesn't it reiterate the point?

If they are reclassified, wouldn't we need someone with the proper clearance to review them? Otherwise, there is no issue, because they weren't' improperly taken to begin with.
I suspect that the reason that they haven't "reclassified" them just to be sure is that they don't want to give any credence to the notion that Trump ever "declassified" them.

In any event, if Trump really did declassify them and then Biden reclassified them, then Trump would have no legitimate right to keep them.

And it would be a document dispute between NARA and Trump, not the DOJ...
The DOJ does not get involved with classified documents?
These are either personal records or Presidential records - therefore it's covered by the PRA. So, a civil issue between the POTUS and NARA.
If they are classified, it is difficult to imagine how they could be personal records.

I don't see how the classified records could possibly not be in the realm of National Security merely because Trump breathed on them at some point.
Ag with kids
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
eric76 said:

Ag with kids said:

eric76 said:

Ag with kids said:

eric76 said:

AgGrad99 said:

eric76 said:

Im Gipper said:

I thought these were all declassified? Why is security clearance needed?
If Trump can declassify them with his imagination, then Biden can surely reclassify them with his imagination.

That's a funny way of framing things...

But if we assume that's a proper line of reasoning...doesn't it reiterate the point?

If they are reclassified, wouldn't we need someone with the proper clearance to review them? Otherwise, there is no issue, because they weren't' improperly taken to begin with.
I suspect that the reason that they haven't "reclassified" them just to be sure is that they don't want to give any credence to the notion that Trump ever "declassified" them.

In any event, if Trump really did declassify them and then Biden reclassified them, then Trump would have no legitimate right to keep them.

And it would be a document dispute between NARA and Trump, not the DOJ...
The DOJ does not get involved with classified documents?
These are either personal records or Presidential records - therefore it's covered by the PRA. So, a civil issue between the POTUS and NARA.
If they are classified, it is difficult to imagine how they could be personal records.

I don't see how the classified records could possibly not be in the realm of National Security merely because Trump breathed on them at some point.
OK. If they're not personal records, they're Presidential records. Which are covered by the Presidential Records Act. And again, that's a civil issues between the FPOTUS and NARA. NARA knows this. The DOJ knows this. But, because Orange Man Bad, here we are.
You can turn off signatures, btw
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.