Trump’s mishandling of classified information reportedly forced the CIA to extract its top Russian spy


President Trump's administration bungled its handling of classified information so badly, the CIA had to extract one of its best spies from Russia, CNN's Jim Sciutto reports.
Early in Trump's administration, then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo warned fellow officials that "too much information was coming out regarding the covert source," putting their safety at risk, CNN writes. So the U.S. embarked on a secret and eventually successful 2017 mission to extract the spy from Russia — an "extraordinary remedy" the CIA would only perform "when U.S. intelligence believes an asset is in immediate danger," CNN continues.
Fears over the safety of this spy reportedly began at the end of former President Barack Obama's presidency because the spy had been cooperating with the U.S. for a while. Those worries continued to grow after U.S. intelligence released a report that included details about the spy. But it was Trump's personal handling of classified information that reportedly tipped the CIA over the edge, namely when he "discussed highly classified intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and then-Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak" in May 2017, CNN reports.
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.
Weeks later, after the spy had been extracted, Trump officials remained concerned that Trump "may have improperly discussed classified intelligence" during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, CNN writes. That proposition drew from how Trump wouldn't let anyone see an interpreter's notes from the meeting at the G20 summit.
The CIA's public affairs director called CNN's reporting "inaccurate," while White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said "CNN's reporting is not only incorrect, it has the potential to put lives in danger." Read the whole report at CNN.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
How medical imposters are ruining health studies
Under the Radar Automated bots and ‘lying’ individuals ‘threaten’ patient safety and integrity of research
-
‘How can I know these words originated in their heart and not some data center in northern Virginia?’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Can Trump deliver a farmer bailout in time?
Today's Big Question Planting decisions and food prices hang in the balance
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats