Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Zorro

(15,749 posts)
Thu Apr 25, 2024, 01:56 AM Apr 25

'So appalled': What witnesses told special counsel about Trump's handling of classified info while still president

In the summer of 2019, only hours after an Iranian rocket accidentally exploded at one of Iran's own launch sites, senior U.S. officials met with then-president Donald Trump and shared a sharply detailed, highly classified image of the blast's catastrophic aftermath.

The image was captured by a U.S. satellite whose true capabilities were a tightly guarded secret. But Trump wanted to share it with the world -- he thought it was especially "sexy" because it was marked classified, one of his former advisers later recalled to special counsel Jack Smith's investigators, according to sources familiar with the former adviser's statements.

Worried that the image becoming public could hurt national security efforts, intelligence officials urged Trump to hold off until more knowledgeable experts were able to weigh in, the sources said. But less than an hour later, while at least one of those intelligence officials was in another building scrambling to get more information, Trump posted the image to Twitter.

"It was so upsetting, and people were really angry," one of Trump's former advisers told investigators, sources said.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/appalled-witnesses-told-special-counsel-205822504.html

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Skittles

(153,193 posts)
3. WHY WHY WHY IS THIS CORRUPT POS TRAITOR ALLOWED TO RUN AGAIN
Thu Apr 25, 2024, 02:50 AM
Apr 25

WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NBachers

(17,142 posts)
4. I've always believed the Intelligence Community of USA and other nations had the goods on *rump from the beginning.
Thu Apr 25, 2024, 03:32 AM
Apr 25

My question has always been: Why do they keep their proof under wrap?

Ford_Prefect

(7,921 posts)
5. Because they don't play it that way. They exist in a separate universe. One in which the Agency is the most important
Thu Apr 25, 2024, 03:56 AM
Apr 25

loyalty. Politicians come and go according to social trends but the institution survives on its ability to gather and control information. Several of the agencies have it in their remit that they do not act within American borders (although that seems to be more pro-forma than actual).

IMO they don't see it as advantageous to interfere in domestic politics that way, or perhaps the risk of reprisal is too much. Apparently there are factions within them who blow hot and cold on domestic intervention.

We have been told in the not so distant past they do not like to share with others. One side effect demonstrated here is that passing on evidence sometimes exposes the sources in ways that damage further use of them.

NJCher

(35,745 posts)
6. Had I been in their position
Thu Apr 25, 2024, 04:03 AM
Apr 25

I wouldn’t have shown him diddly. It’s pretty easy to figure out what shiny objects he likes. I’d have shown him unimportant things like what comic books Kim Jung Un was reading this week.

It’s apparent that he is incapable of comprehending much information in the first place, so why even pretend a serious interest in engaging him?

In fact you could even feed him true but irrelevant information that he would find fascinating. Then he would post it and further make a fool out of himself because he has no judgment.

mopinko

(70,235 posts)
8. they shd have given him a blue dye test.
Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:51 AM
Apr 25

i’m not sure if that’s a real thing, but in spy movies, they give u a fake but tasty bit of info, and see who u give it too. he wd have fallen for it in a heartbeat.

Boomerproud

(7,967 posts)
9. Its also appalling that these people didn't go straight to the media.
Thu Apr 25, 2024, 07:17 AM
Apr 25

How many other stories are out there about people who are supposed to be adults in charge wringing there hands?

Martin Eden

(12,875 posts)
11. Juvenile who prioritizes 'likes' on social media, not national security
Thu Apr 25, 2024, 12:58 PM
Apr 25

Mentally and morally unfit for any position of public trust or power.

Bo Zarts

(25,404 posts)
12. I have for 54 years guarded Top Secret/Crypto/SI info that I had privy to in Vietnam ..
Thu Apr 25, 2024, 05:49 PM
Apr 25

But, I didn't have bone spurs then to make me batshit crazy in my mid-70s. I never knew that bone spurs could do that to you.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»'So appalled': What witne...