Thread by @Headsnipe011

This has been happening since January 2017. Glad the news is catching on.

https://twitter.com/axios/status/1282448431731146754

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Delivers Remarks at Briefing on Leaks of Classified Materials Threatening National Security

justice.gov/opa/pr/attorne…

Furthering this goal, today, we are here to announce some of the steps being taken and underway by the National Insider Threat Task Force to ensure that this government’s first priority—

to protect this country and her citizens—is not undermined by the very people who have been entrusted to protect it.

While the Department of Justice does not discuss ongoing investigations or confirm specific matters, it is important for the American people—and for those who might be thinking about leaking sensitive or classified information—

to know that criminals who would illegally use their access to our most sensitive information to endanger our national security are, in fact, being investigated and prosecuted.

Since January, the Department has more than tripled the number of active leak investigations compared to the number pending at the end of the last Administration.

And we have already charged four people with unlawfully disclosing classified material or with concealing contacts with foreign intelligence officers.

Soon after I arrived here in February, I initiated a review of our leak investigations and prosecutions. I reviewed how these cases were being referred and handled and was concerned with what we found—too few referrals,

too few investigations with insufficient resources dedicated to them. I concluded the unprecedented rise in leaks required a surge of additional support for more investigations and to speed up our existing investigations.

Our system here relies on the intelligence community making a determination of whether classified material has been improperly handled or released and then sending referrals to the Department of Justice.

This means it is vital for the intelligence community to know that the Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting these referrals. And when few investigations take place, criminal leaks may occur more often and a culture of leaking takes hold.

So, today, I have this message for the intelligence community: The Department of Justice is open for business.
 
**********⬇️RIGHT HERE⬇️**********

And I have this warning for would-be leakers: Don’t do it.

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For the past several months, we have already made changes and are seriously ramping up our efforts.
 
First, I directed my Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein—whose district in Maryland encompassed the NSA headquarters and who has personally led these kinds of investigations—

and FBI Director Christopher Wray to oversee all classified leak investigations and actively monitor the progress of each and every case.

Second, I directed the National Security Division and U.S. Attorneys to prioritize cases involving unauthorized disclosures. The Department will not hesitate to bring lawful and appropriate criminal charges against those who abuse the nation’s trust.

Third, as I said, we tripled the number of active leak investigations. In response, the FBI has increased resources devoted to leak cases and created a new counterintelligence unit to manage these cases.

Simultaneously, the Department is reviewing policies that impact leak investigations.

***Tag all your favorite "Inside scoop" journalists in the next post FROM 2017***

I have listened to career investigators and prosecutors about how to most successfully investigate and prosecute these matters. At their suggestion, one of the things we are doing is reviewing policies affecting media subpoenas.

We respect the important role that the press plays and will give them respect, but it is not unlimited. They cannot place lives at risk with impunity.

We must balance their role with protecting our national security and the lives of those who serve in our intelligence community, the armed forces, and all law abiding Americans.

Finally, here is what I want to tell every American today: This nation must end the culture of leaks. We will investigate and seek to bring criminals to justice. We will not allow rogue anonymous sources with security clearances to sell out our country any longer.