How the Declassification Process Works | WSJ
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Published 2022-09-02
When the FBI searched his Mar-a-Lago home in August, they found numerous top secret materials. Some were labeled as sensitive information, which means they are supposed to only be viewed and stored in very secure facilities.
Trump argues he declassified the material while he was President, but there’s no written record of it. If the President declassifies something — but doesn’t document it — is it really classified?
WSJ explains the government’s classification and declassification process and what authority the President has — and doesn’t have.
Read more about the investigation into Trump’s handling of documents on The Wall Street Journal: www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-search-mar-a-lag…
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All Comments (21)
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Where is the paperwork of Trump declassifying the government's classified documents? Why didn't Trump "just comply" like he expects US citizens to do?
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Literally more useful in 5 minutes than any of the hours of JKO training I've done.
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Declassification is a dumb talking point to distract from the fact that those documents weren't his to keep in his basement.
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For most of what was recovered in the search, Top Secret & TS-SCI documents, the answer is no. For the rest, yes, provided the legal procedures are followed, which don't appear so. He knows he is toast. That is why he is attacking his accusers. That is what he has always done, even before entering politics.
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It is moot. The Documents belong to the National Archive. De- or not Classified. Period.
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Literally does not matter if any of the documents were classified or not, that's besides the point. They were not his to take. He broke several laws by doing so, that is a fact. He is not above the law. If I had taken any classified material home with me during my time in the Navy I would've been arrested, thrown in the brig, and charged accordingly. If we are truly a nation of laws, then he must be held to the same standard.
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Trump probably thought those documents with yellow rectangle borders were owned by National Geographic.
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“In my administration, I’m going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information. No one will be above the law.” — Trump August 18, 2016
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It doesn’t matter if he can or not. All the statutes listed in the warrant do not require the documents to be classified for a crime to have been committed.
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Here’s the evolution of Trumps excuses: 1) I didn’t take the documents. 2) But if I did take the documents, they weren’t classified. 3) And if they were classified, then they were planted. 4) And if they weren’t planted, I declassified them. 5) And if I didn’t declassify them, then it’s a hoax. 6) And if it’s not a hoax, then Obama did it. 7) WHAT ABOUT HER EMAILS?????🤣😂
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There's a human or a group of humans connected to the other end of these documents. For one person to unilaterally deem these documents as "unclassified" is dangerous and shows disregard for what it truly may be at stake.
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"I just have to think about de-classifying those documents, there for, they are de-classified" trump, talking to Hannity on Fox last night.
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Thanks for that explainer. It would be nice if you also indicate the care and custody protocol for the handling of the documents
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Thanks for the breakdown Im going to share this
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I. DECLARE. DECLASSIFICATION!
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I thought the question is not "can he?" but "did he (declassified the documents while he was still President and before he brought them to Mar-a-lago)?".
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What? you can't just wave a hand?
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i see.
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can't wait for the follow up when it's announced no charges will be pressed.
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WSJ needs to put this on Fox News, also owned by the same Aussie
