A group of Democratic senators want the FBI to disclose all the people in the White House who don't have a full security clearance
A group of Democratic senators sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday inquiring which White House staffers are operating under temporary security clearances. Citing the recent resignation of former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter, who was reportedly working without a full security clearance after the FBI learned of accusations of physical and mental abuse against him by his two ex-wives, the senators expressed their concern that the White House was allowing the "mishandling of classified information."
"We write out of concern regarding the White House's troubling reliance on the use of interim security clearances," the senators wrote, asking for the names of all staffers who are working on temporary credentials. The letter cites a recent CNN article that claims there are 30 to 40 people in the White House who the lawmakers say have "full access to highly sensitive classified information" even though they are without full security clearances. This is troubling, the lawmakers write, as Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told Congress on Tuesday that people with partial security clearances should usually only have "limited access" to classified documents.
A particular point of concern for the senators was the status of White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, who also reportedly has only a temporary security clearance. The letter is signed by six senators, including Cory Booker (N.J.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.). Read it below. Kelly O'Meara Morales
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
10 concert tours to see this winter
The Week Recommends Keep warm traveling the United States — and the world — to see these concerts
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Does Trump have the power to end birthright citizenship?
Today's Big Question He couldn't do so easily, but it may be a battle he considers worth waging
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
2024: the year of romantasies
In the Spotlight A generation of readers that grew up on YA fantasy series are getting their kicks from the spicy subgenre
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published