Those mishandling classified material face prosecution
Two major U.S. newspapers—The Washington Post and The New York Times—may have received classified information from members of the intelligence community, according to officials familiar with the matter. Now, those suspected of leaking that information are facing serious consequences.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard formally referred two intelligence professionals to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution on Wednesday. An ODNI official confirmed the alleged leaks involved sensitive material shared with both outlets. The official also revealed that a third criminal referral is “on its way” to the DOJ.
The official added that intelligence personnel should view the action “as a warning” per Fox News, signaling a crackdown on unauthorized disclosures from within the government.
“Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation’s security at risk and must end,” Gabbard told Fox. “Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Today, I referred two intelligence community leakers to the Department of Justice for criminal referral, with a third criminal referral on its way, which includes the recent illegal leak to the Washington Post,” she continued. “These deep-state criminals leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine President Trump’s agenda.”
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As a Communications officer in the Marine Corps, I reviewed classified material up to top secret and routed it to the appropriate senior officers. A senior NCO would usually have to decode the material that came over and turn it into something the addressee could actually read. It never crossed my mind or the people I was working with to give this material to anyone other than the addressee, much less the media. Doing that for political purposes is a good way to ruin your career and be prosecuted.
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