A news story that broke last night claims that President Trump revealed “highly classified” information to Russian officials during a meeting last week. Both the "Washington Post" and "New York Times" are citing officials as saying that the information dealt with an ISIS plot.
According to the "Times," there are concerns that the information could reveal the source of the intelligence. A hastily arranged press gaggle materialized at the White House in the aftermath of this latest bombshell.
National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster made a briefing statement and did not take questions. He firmly denied the reports about President Trump and the Russians. McMaster said intelligence sources and methods were not discussed and that said the same about U.S. military operations. For the record, McMaster was at the meeting, which you’ll recall, saw the President lock out American press in favor of their Russian counterparts.
- Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell called the story false and said only "common threats" were discussed. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also downplayed the reports, saying "the nature of specific threats were discussed," but he claims "they did not discuss sources, methods or military operations."
- Arizona Republican Senator John McCain took to Twitter to say “it's deeply disturbing, if it's true.” Senator Bob Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says the White House is in a "downward spiral."
- Meanwhile, a 2016 tweet from House Speaker Paul Ryan is being resurrected over the reports regarding President Trump. The tweet from last July says "individuals who are 'extremely careless' with classified information should be denied further access to such info." Ironically, his comment at the time was in reference to former FBI Director James Comey's statement on Hillary Clinton's handling of classified information.