🧵 with an investigator’s read of last night’s WP story detailing some of the material seized from MAL. What can we know – and not know – from a careful reading?
The article repeatedly describes its (plural) sources as “people familiar with the matter” and “people familiar with the search.” But never once “govt sources,” “intel officials,” or “law enforcement officials.”
Doesn’t exclude USG sources, but leaves open non-govt sources. 2/
“Nuclear capabilities” doesn’t necessarily mean “nuclear weapons.” It could describe countries at various points on the path of seeking nuc weapons.
We don’t know enough to know which country. Trump’s interests are wide enough to implicate several. Speculation is guesswork. 3/
“The government also developed evidence that government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation.”
I used both consent and search warrants dozens of times over the course of my career to recover classified govt info - but never a subpoena. Let’s talk subpoenas and why they’re not used to recover classified material from those not authorized to have it.
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I’m talking here about information produced by the USG containing national defense information and appropriately classified in accordance with EO 13526. Not someone’s after-the-fact book, or classified information in a news article.
Someone not authorized to possess it, in this thread, refers to former President Trump. Presidents to not “get” security clearances. They gain access to classified info by virtue of their election, and are the USG’s ultimate classification (and declassification) authority.