Trump says he can declassify documents just "by thinking about it".

[Oompa Loompa]

That doesn't make rational sense. If there's no record of the declassification, no one besides Trump would know that the documents were declassified. So as far as everybody else was concerned, they'd still be classified.

A president could order classified documents to be declassified whenever he wants, and then the declassification process would happen, including recording the declassification and properly marking the documents.

You just don't get it. The president is the final authority when it comes to declassifying documents. It is literally impossible for him to commit espionage or leak classified information. He can literally do whatever he wants with whatever information for whatever reason.

 

[Yttrium]

You just don't get it. The president is the final authority when it comes to declassifying documents. It is literally impossible for him to commit espionage or leak classified information. He can literally do whatever he wants with whatever information for whatever reason.

I understand your fantasies on the topic. I'm pointing out that if it isn't recorded, it didn't happen as far as everybody else is concerned.

 

[Desk trauma]

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the gymnastics thus far ?

3

 

[Bradskii]

You just don't get it. The president is the final authority when it comes to declassifying documents. It is literally impossible for him to commit espionage or leak classified information. He can literally do whatever he wants with whatever information for whatever reason.

I'm really not sure what you said is legally correct, but it should all be in the past tense. I'm hesitant to copy/paste and change it because there are rules against 'there - fixed it for ya' type posts.

 

[Yttrium]

I'm really not sure what you said is legally correct, but it should all be in the past tense. I'm hesitant to copy/paste and change it because there are rules against 'there - fixed it for ya' type posts.

As president, he couldn't be legally prosecuted for it. But he can and would be impeached for serious enough offenses.

And all that doesn't apply to an ex-president.

 

[durangodawood]

You just don't get it. The president is the final authority when it comes to declassifying documents....

Sure, but he actually has to do it. Just thinking it into reality doesn't work.

 

[durangodawood]

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the gymnastics thus far ?

I see the same people falling off the balance beam over and over.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

You just don't get it. The president is the final authority when it comes to declassifying documents. It is literally impossible for him to commit espionage or leak classified information. He can literally do whatever he wants with whatever information for whatever reason.

They are not his documents to take anywhere, classified or not.

 

[camille70]

You just don't get it. The president is the final authority when it comes to declassifying documents. It is literally impossible for him to commit espionage or leak classified information. He can literally do whatever he wants with whatever information for whatever reason.

Trump is no longer president. If the current administration/president states something is classified, it's classified. Classifications can go back and forth.

If Obama had said he classified or declassified something while he was in office, and during Trumps term 2017-2021 he changed it, whose classification would be valid? Why or why not as a former president would Obama have the power to classify/declassify or not honor what Trump's CURRENT administration decided? If Obama had declassified something, would he be entitled to own the document and take it home as his own?

 

[Oompa Loompa]

They are not his documents to take anywhere, classified or not.

Oh yes they are.

 

[camille70]

Oh yes they are.

Not according to the DOJ, the 11th circuit appeals court, or Judge Cannon as she revised her special master ruling to exclude those classified documents.

 

[loveofourlord]

Actually the president does have a right under the law, NARA and Trump were discussing which records Trump would keep. It was GSA personnel that packed up many of the records, it was no secret.

No he doesn't, they are records that are meant to be kept by the goverment . It's utterly stupid to think otherwise. These excuses for trump are comical. Wich why trump was laughed out of court.

 

[loveofourlord]

Not true. As the head of the executive branch, he can declassify anything for whatever reason or for no reason at all. Hence the "all I have to do is think about it and it is declassified."

No he can't in fact some things require going through proper channels, and he most definetly can not do it fiat without telling anyoone, and things like nuclear secrets are still ilegal to have even if declassified lets not forget that. Some things are a crime to have no matter what.

 

[Valletta]

No he can't in fact some things require going through proper channels, and he most definetly can not do it fiat without telling anyoone, and things like nuclear secrets are still ilegal to have even if declassified lets not forget that. Some things are a crime to have no matter what.

With the rare exception of nuclear secrets, and there are probably none in the documents, the president has full authority to declassify--he makes the "channels" if he wishes.

 

[Hans Blaster]

It was clear, but it was a general warrant in violation of the Constitution. As to the records act, it appears Trump has a right to documents.

How many times do we need to tell you?

The warrant was for government documents and classified materials located anywhere within Mar-a-Lago with an authorization to take the contents of any container with classified materials in it. That is not a general warrant.

 

[Valletta]

Again as a JUDGE said, it's a red herring, declassifying them doesn't make it stop making it ilegal to have them, they are GOVEREMENT property not the presidents or anyone elses. I've been saying that for weeks, declassifying means you can make copies and have access to read them, doesn't mean you get to take them home thats just idiotic.

Obama kept his documents at a defunct furniture store, Trump at his residence guarded by Secret Service.

 

[Valletta]

How many times do we need to tell you?

The warrant was for government documents and classified materials located anywhere within Mar-a-Lago with an authorization to take the contents of any container with classified materials in it. That is not a general warrant.

None of the material was classified.

 

[GreatLakes4Ever]

None of the material was classified.

Why hasn’t Trump’s lawyers showed evidence these documents were declassified to the court?

 

[FireDragon76]

If the President is above the law... what is the point in having laws in the first place?

 

[Bradskii]

Why hasn’t Trump’s lawyers showed evidence these documents were declassified to the court?

They are under oath.