Trump Orders to AG Worry Critics       05/25 10:55

   Intelligence professionals warned Friday that President Donald Trump's 
decision to give his loyal attorney general carte blanche to disclose 
still-secret material from the Russia investigation will let William Barr 
cherry-pick intelligence to paint a misleading picture about what started the 
probe..

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Intelligence professionals warned Friday that President 
Donald Trump's decision to give his loyal attorney general carte blanche to 
disclose still-secret material from the Russia investigation will let William 
Barr cherry-pick intelligence to paint a misleading picture about what started 
the probe.

   The president claims his campaign was spied upon, though Trump 
administration officials have said they have no specific evidence that anything 
illegal was done when the campaign came under FBI surveillance that was 
approved by a court.

   On Thursday, Trump gave Barr full authority to publicly disclose information 
about the origins of the investigation the president has repeatedly dismissed 
as a "hoax."

   "You have to get down to what happened because what happened is a tremendous 
blight on our country," Trump said, adding that Barr is highly respected and 
will be impartial in reviewing documents.

   But Trump's critics are wary of leaving the decision of what intelligence to 
release --- and what should remain hidden --- in Barr's hands. Barr is a 
staunch Trump defender who Democrats say spun special counsel Robert Mueller's 
report in Trump's favor, playing down aspects suggesting possible criminal 
conduct. Mueller has also complained to Barr about his handling of the release 
of the report.

   That has prompted concern that Barr will take a similar approach to his 
review of the origins of Mueller's probe, releasing intelligence backing 
Trump's claims that it was politically motivated, while keeping classified 
evidence demonstrating the need for the probe.

   Barr has already said he believes "spying did occur" on the Trump campaign, 
but he also made clear at a Senate hearing that any surveillance wasn't 
necessarily illegal or improper.

   Barr has asked the U.S. attorney in Connecticut to examine the origins of 
the Russia investigation to find out if intelligence and surveillance methods 
used during the probe were lawful and appropriate.

   Intelligence experts claim Trump is trying to do an end-run around U.S. spy 
agencies. They say having someone outside the intelligence community deciding 
what can be released jeopardizes sources and undercuts America's partnership 
with spy agencies in friendly nations, including some that shared information 
with the U.S. regarding the Russia probe.

   Traditionally, when Congress, for instance, asks for material to be 
declassified, the request is forwarded to the intelligence agencies where the 
information originated or resides. Those agencies recommend what part, if any, 
can be declassified without jeopardizing intelligence sources or spy craft. 
Then, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence coordinates the 
feedback from all the agencies and makes a decision.

   National Intelligence Director Dan Coats said in a statement Friday that 17 
intelligence agencies he represents will provide the Justice Department all 
appropriate information needed for its review of intelligence activities 
related to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

   Coats also said he's confident Barr will work in accordance with 
"long-established standards to protect highly-sensitive classified information 
that, if publicly released, would put our national security at risk."

   But while Trump's memorandum instructs Barr to consult with appropriate 
intelligence agencies "to the extent he deems it practicable" before he 
releases anything, it doesn't require him to do so.

   This has alarmed Trump critics, who have served in high-level U.S. 
intelligence posts.

   "It is potentially dangerous if the attorney general were to declassify 
something the director of national intelligence thought should be kept 
classified, as the director is in the best position to judge the damage to 
intelligence sources and methods," said Michael Morell, a former U.S. 
intelligence official and host of the Intelligence Matters podcast.

   Morell said Trump should never have given Barr the declassification 
authority. "It is yet another step that will raise questions among our allies 
and partners about whether to share sensitive intelligence with us," he said.

   David Kris, former head of the Justice Department's national security 
division, said it's "very unusual --- unprecedented in my experience --- for a 
non-intelligence officer to be given absolute declassification authority over 
the intelligence."

   Kris, now a consultant at Culper Partners, said people expect the nation's 
top law enforcement officer to be nonpartisan and there is now fear the 
apolitical nature of intelligence could be threatened.

   John McLaughlin, a former deputy director of the CIA who served as acting 
director in 2004, tweeted, "Giving Barr declassification authority for this 
investigation is a really bad idea." He said congressional intelligence 
committees "need to stand in the door on this one."

   California Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House intelligence committee, 
vowed to conduct oversight of any effort to selectively reveal and distort 
classified information or manipulate the declassification system.

   "The clear intent of this abuse of power is to override longstanding rules 
governing classified information to serve the president's political interests, 
advance his 'deep state' narrative, and target his political rivals," Schiff 
said.

   Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate intelligence 
committee, accused Trump and Barr of politicizing the intelligence that people 
risked their lives to gather. That "will make it harder for the intelligence 
community to do their jobs protecting this country from those who wish to do us 
harm."

   But Rep. Mark Meadows, one of Trump's congressional allies, said Trump's 
directive reflected the president's pledge for an open and transparent 
investigation.

   Meadows tweeted: "Outstanding --- President Trump authorizing the Attorney 
General to declassify documents related to surveillance during the 2016 
election. Americans are going to learn the truth about what occurred at their 
Justice Department."


(KA)