Another impeachable dereliction of duty:
President Trump told two senior Russian officials in a 2017 Oval Office meeting that he was unconcerned about Moscow’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election because the United States did the same in other countries, an assertion that prompted alarmed White House officials to limit access to the remarks to an unusually small number of people, according to three former officials with knowledge of the matter.
The comments, which have not been previously reported, were part of a now-infamous meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, in which Trump revealed highly classified information that exposed a source of intelligence on the Islamic State. He also said during the meeting that firing FBI Director James B. Comey the previous day had relieved “great pressure” on him.
The Trump shakedown call to the Ukrainian president was no aberration. Covering up this lawless incompetent's treasonous, self- dealing behavior apparently became a cottage industry in the White House. Understandably, the Russians are now afraid that the substance of Trump's private calls with Putin will be exposed.A memorandum summarizing the meeting was limited to a few officials with the highest security clearances in an attempt to keep the president’s comments from being disclosed publicly, according to the former officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. (our emphasis)
As the impeachment inquiry moves forward, getting access to the classified computer system where more damning Trump behavior is likely memorialized must be the highest priority. It's likely to involve a fight all the way to the Supreme Court, unless there's another patriotic whistleblower out there who has the goods. Let a thousand leaks bloom.
Meanwhile,
Just to clarify what is going on here, the White House appears to be engaged in massive, systemic abuse of the classification system and underlying presidential authorities in order to cover up egregious wrongdoing including impeachable conduct.— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) September 28, 2019
This is a historic scandal.
BONUS: In addition to calls with Putin, CNN is reporting on calls to Saudi executioner Crown Prince Mohammed bin "Bone Saw" Salman being tightly held by a White House concerned with the content of the calls =cough= self-dealing =cough= quid pro quo =cough=.
