Trump and the Russians: Major Security Breach in the Oval Office Last Wednesday

Photo: Getty Images/TASS

A recent post described the meeting between President Trump and Russian government officials in the Oval Office. The Washington Post reported today, confirmed by several other newspapers, that during that meeting, President Trump shared highly classified information ("'code-word information,' said a U.S. official familiar with the matter, using terminology that refers to one of the highest classification levels used by American spy agencies.")

This information was gathered by a U.S. ally, not our own intelligence agencies, and is sensitive enough that it has not been shared with our allies. 

The Washington Post story can be found here.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?utm_term=.3dba6d84bd5b

​The New York Times, through their own sources, confirmed the Post's reporting. Their story can be found here.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?utm_term=.3dba6d84bd5b

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster denied the story, carefully choosing his words to state, "At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed, and the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known." The Post story did not report that sources or methods had been revealed. McMaster did not deny the facts presented in the story.

The photos of the President's meeting with the Russian officials were taken by Tass, the Russian state media outlet. American press was kept out of the meeting.

The NPR story, with McMaster's statement, can be found here.
http://www.npr.org/2017/05/15/528511980/report-trump-gave-classified-information-to-russians-during-white-house-visit

Since the President can declassify information if he chooses to, this security breach was likely not unlawful. However, since the information shared was obtained from one of our allies, there could be serious implications for our relationships with allies. They will likely be reticent to share information with the U.S. if they cannot rely on the President to treat their information appropriately.

The release of sensitive national security information could be a violation of the President's oath of office, which he took on January 20, 2017:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

If the President is unable or unwilling to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, he must resign or be removed from office.

UPDATE (5/15/2017, 8:30 pm PDT): This story has been confirmed by 5 major news outlets:

Washington Post
New York Times
Buzzfeed
Reuters
Wall Street Journal

​UPDATE (5/15/2017, 8:40 pm PDT): The Washington Post has another article, explaining how McMaster's non-denial denial confirms the facts reported in the original story.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/05/15/the-white-house-isnt-denying-that-trump-gave-russia-classified-information-not-really/?utm_term=.b059a3b72860

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